Omaha daily bee., 1899-04-02


that is vacant. Rents have not advanced,
but they remain firm at about the same
figures as ljEt summer. on the whole !
am Of the opinion that the cloud with the
silver lining is lowering over Omaha"
Relative to city property said Mr.
George Of the Potter 4 George company
There are more people buying homes now
than a. any time during The last ten years
Men are buying lots and erecting houses,
and in addition to this a great many people
are purchasing houses that have been erec-
ted Values are fair, yet they are not boom
prices. Nest Of the people are paying cash.
or at least a large proportion Of the pur-
chasing price in cash. The demand for six
to eight-room houses is something enor-
nous, and the man who puts up num-
bcr Of them to rent will get good returns
on his Investment At the close of the expo
sition people thought that there would b.
many vacant houses but the conditions have
been quite the reverse and / feel safe in
saying that right at this time that within
radius OF two miles from the postoffice there
is not a desirable residence that is vacant"
r, c. Peters & Co. said; at this time
there is a big demand for houses with
modern conveniences. Any house containing
from six to eight rooms and well located is
snapped up without many questions being
asked about price. There are many strang
ers coming into the city now and all of
them are house hunters The indications are
that this year there will be a great many
dwellings and some store buildings erected
The business houses will be put up on the
outlying streets, such as Sherman avenue,
West Farnam, Leavenworth and Cunning, and
streets that are similarly situated. Right
at this time there is quite a demand for
fnr toll ,p1f1
seeking office rooms in the tireproof build
ings. Business is the best In years"
Business IN Improving.
Speaking of business, Garvin Brothers
said: "lhere has been nothing like it since
twelve years ago. There is no boom, but
there Is a good steady market for all kinds
of desirable city property. Lots well located
are selling at good prices In fact there
have been more sales of city property since
January 1 than during the two years pre-
ceding that date. A large proportion of the
purchasers pay cash. Most of the lots that
are bought are to be occupied, though, of
course, some of them will be held for
speculation. From a business point of view,
there Is no better property IN existence than
Omaha real estate at the present prces.'
Brennan & Love, speaking of the demand
for houses, said: 'If we had fifty modern
cottages on our lists we could rent them
during the next ten days. Many strangers
are coming into the city and all of them
seem to want houses. During the coming
season we predict quite a building boom
both here and in South Omaha. Men of
limited means who have been boarding their
money are letting loose of It, and are pre-
pairing to put their savings into homes.
While there is demand for store buildings
and business houses, it is nothing like the
demand for cottages and houses with modern
Conven!enCes"
G. s. Benawa, of the firm of Benawa G
Co., in discussing the real estate and
rental business, said: at is the best in
twelve years. We are having from fifteen
to twenty-five calls per day for houses. We
can't fill our orders simply for the reason
that the houses are not here. Last fall
at the close of the exposition the opinion
prevailed that rents would drop and
hundreds of people would leave the city.
The indications now are that most of the
people who came in the spring of 1898 re-
mained, and hundreds Of others are coming
in this season. l think that a great many
residences will be erected this season. Some
will be erected for an investment, but the
majority of them will be put up by men who
expect to occupy them. Men who own lots
feel that now is good time to own
home and they are going to build"
While few of the architects of the city
have orders for plans for large build
ings, they are all busy preparing sketches
for dwellings and cottages.
The building Outlook.
John Latenser, in speaking of the build
ing outlook said: In addition to the
public school buildings, there will be a
large rUmber of residences and sCme busi-
ness blocks erected this season. Everything
indicates that it is to be the best season in
ten years. Money is easy and plenty and
people are investing it in city lots, dwellings
and business houses The late spring has
delayed building operations to some extent
but during April think that it will open up
in pretty good shape"
Harry Lawrie of Fisher & Lawrie said
"There are many good things coming this
| year, but bad weather is holding them off.
The indications are that there will be some
pretty fine business blocks erected this sea-
son, but what they are | am not at liberty
| to state at this time In addition to these
| there will be hundreds of residences. In
fact there will be more building in Omaha
| this season than has been seen during the
! last ten years. Men with money are going
! to put it into brick stone and mortar con-
sdering this the best investment that they
can make"
81 have done more business during the
| last three months than during the three
years preceding 1899" said j. p, Guth. IL
have drawn plans for scores of residences
and also for a number of two-stOry business
blocks. AS a rule the business blocks arc
on the outlying Streets while the dwellings
are scattered all over the city. AS a rule
the dwellings are of the better class and
will cost from $4,000 to 5000 each. In my
opinion this is going to be the most prosper
Gus year in the history of Omaha. There
will be no boom, but there will be a gooC