The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-12-25
Opinions of Various Brokers
on the Future Of the
Market.
Many Improvements of City
Property Expected During
the Coming Year.
An Optimistic View Taken by
the Majority of the
Brokers.

With q view to Offering some useful sug-
eestions on the real estate outlook for the
new year, The CALL presents herewith
a series of communications from the
brokers whose experience and judgment
qualify them to discuss the topic intelli-
gently. The opinions will be found I'M
usually interesting, dealing as they do
with living issues, while their conclusions
will have all the weight that comes from
intimate knowledge of the subject under
consideration.
REALTY AS SECURITY.
The most notable fact in connection with
the real estate situation at this time is
the manifest restoration of confidence.
1t appears to be universal; audit promises
to make an active market during the COM
ing year. Values, both of City lots and
country lands, have been tending down.
ward these past three years; bottom has
been reached, and the symptoms OF bet
torment are now plainly to be seen.
The real estate market does not, like
the Bond Exchange, respond Immediately
to new conditions. TIE element of time
enters into every transaction, great or
small; but already there is visible in
crease both in the number and weight OF
the transactions in hand.
In my judgment there has not, within
recent years, been q time so favorable for
real estate investment as just now. The
prices at which property may be obtained
are in many instances from % to 40 per
cent less than the prices ruling prior to
1898, while the outlook for future values is
better than at any time in the past. All
the outside conditions upon which the
proftableness of City property is depend
emit are now for the first time in several
years wholly favorable. The mining IN
dustry is pouring more than million and
a half dollars each month into the busi-
ness life of San Francisco. The better
prices for agricultural products mean an
increase of business of at least 20 per cent.
The revival in these lines OF industry Is
already stimulating local manufacture,
and every establishment which turns out
mining or farming machinery is now
working on full time. The new Valley
Railroad is just beginning the business OF
actual transportation, and its immediate
projects will distribute several millions OF
dollars in channels which lead direct to
San Francisco. All these facts are bound
to be reflected in the better conditions al
fecting City real estate.
The value and the demand for property
is based upon its earning power, and with
increasing activity in business there is
bound TO be an increasing demand and
better prices for real estate.
A marked feature of the present time is
the inquiry for homestead lots of moderate
price. Apparently many persons of small
means have been boarding their savings
curing the period of uncertainty and are
now seeking small investments. 1t is a
wholesome movement bound. IN the very
nature of things, to extend the area of the
districts of small homes.
In the line OF large investments there
are many inquiries on the part of conserv-
alive people, so many that / feel safe in
predicting heavy business in 1897.
S. c. BUCKBEE.