Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-02-10
REAL ESTATE GOSSIP
The Experience Of Large Investor
in Property.
ERECTION OF APARTMENT HOUSES
inducements for Those Who Wish
- to Own Homes.
V A r 10 US NJ ATTER S

excellent that there seems to be nothing
lacking except the purpose to acquire the
property. 1t is possible for those with even
small amount of cash to make start
which will result in owning a home Some
times the mistake is made of beginning to
buy piece of properly which costs more
money than the means of the purchaser
warrants, and in such cases the deferred
payments become burdensome and the home
seeker is apt to become discouraged.
1t is possible, with a little calculation and
with the further aid OF the advice of COM
petent friends, for man with a given in
come to determine accurately just how
much he can undertake to assume in the
shape of an obligation the house which
he provides for his family If he has the
deferred payments in the shape of u loan
from building association or in a deed of
trust, he knows exactly how much is due
each month in the way of interest and
charges.
Under Sensible Condition..
This fact being ascertaincd he can then
decide whether a sufficient balance will re-
main out of his income after meeting such
charges to provide for the family expenses.
When a. beginning In the purchase of
home Is made as the result of such
calculation 1t rarely ends in failure On
the other hand, however, when greater OBJ
legations are entered into than can be read
lily handled. complications are apt to fol-
low, and the path of the prospective house
owner proves to be "A hard one.
The scale of prices for homes in and out
of the city is so varied that practically
every pocketbook can be suited. so there is
no reason why any one with an income and
the proper spirit should not enter upon the
career of a home buyer. Modest houses
for as small an amount 1900 are to be
had. and from that point the progress is
gradually upward through all grades TO the
most expensive private residence.
Erect One Owns Home.
People who prefer the suburbs of the city
can be accommodated, and whether the To-
cation is within without the urban lin
its, they can buy land and put up their own
houses. 1t is believed. however that houses
already erected, especially those which have
been in use for some time, can be pur-
chased for less money than would be re-
quired to build Il similar structure. AS the
suburbs are now readily accessible from all
parts of the city, the question of suburban
versus city residence becomes one merely
of personal taste. Some people prefer liv-
Ing in the city, others lean to the country.
Under present conditions the advantages
of the country and city are SO evenly bal
anced that this phase of the matter is no
longer important. By the expenditure of
the same amount Of money, however, a
larger house and more ground be Sc
CQitu III lllt COuIitTy tlldll III the city, ana
1t is further urged in behalf of the coun-
try that certain expenses Of family life
there are very much lower than in the
city However this may be. people who
contemplate living in their own homes in
stead Of those of others have a chance for
determining for themselves the location, and
whether it shall be within without the
city limits. People who have been accus-
toned to live in the country find themselves
drawn to country life, where they can have
a garden and keep chickens. and perhaps
even COW. while others prefer to secure
these requisites of the table at the corner
grocery. AS stated before, it is mere,
matter Of taste and the real estate market
here is SO broad that there is plenty of
room for the exercise of wide latitude in
this particular.
An Apartment House.
A handsome apartment building Is to be
erected at 1913 oath street northwest, from
plans prepared by C. L. Harding architect
The building will have a frontage OF fifty
two feet and a depth of 40 feet. and will
be four stories in height, with a basement
Gray Roman brick will be the material used
in the front with trimming of Indiana
limestone The design will be q pleasing
example of architecture. The interior con-
struction Of the building will be Of iron
columns and steel beams and the wood
work to be used in the trimmings of the
rooms will be selected chestnut. There
will be four flats on each floor consisting
VI lOuT ana nVe rooms edCn.
In the basement, besides the apartments
for the janitor and space for the heating
apparatus and for the coal. there will be
cafe. barber shop, bicycle room and
laundry. There will also be locker room
for each fiat and servants bath room.
An attractive feature will be the public
hall and staircase. Each fiat will have a
private hall and throughout the structure
there will be abundance of light and heat
and there will be no dark rooms. The build
ing will be heated by steam, both electric
and gas lighting will be provided, and the
bath rooms will be tiled and will contain
porcelain tubs.
Two Large Structures.
1t Is likely that during the coming sea-
son an apartment house will be erected on
the east side of 18th street. Just north Of X
street, by Mr.. A. o. Bliss. He has a wide
frontage there, which at present is occu-
pied by old buildings. and the plans which
he made some time ago for the improvement
Of this property, by the erection of large
apartment house, are still IN view. Mr..
Bliss Is just completing an apartment house
at the northeast corner OF LIST and B streets
northwest, the principal frontage being on
the grounds of the Capitol.
The now structure has frontage of sew
enty-six feet and extends back on LIST street
100 feet. 1t Is five stories high, with a
basement, and the exterior walls are built
of light gray and buff brick, the design
being in the style of the Italian renais-
sance. The work-of construction has been
carried on very carefully under the super
vision of the contractor, Mr.. W. e. Speir
and the structure Is most substantial. The
suites are arranged so that they contain
from Ave to two rooms each. and some Of
them have kitchens, although q cafe will
be in the building.
r.. Property Owners Experience.
A property holder whose receipts from
the rentals Of his real estate holdings in
this city amount to about 81 200 per month