Evening star., 1900-06-30
REAL ESTATE GOSSIP
Inquiries Made by Those Who Are
Looking for Suburban Homes.
EFFECT OF MODERN IMPROVEMENTS
Facilities for Those Becoming Prop
erty Owners.
V A r lou S M A T T E r S

How to change the class Of house renters
into home owners is one of the problems
which wide-awake real estate dealers are
constantly working upon. The desire to
acquire at least the title to ones own home
is very general, perhaps more so than most
people would imagine. Appeals to save a
portion of the daily or weekly earnings are
likely to fall on unresponsive ears unless
such a specific object is held in view as
the ultimate ownership of the house roof
| that shelters the family. With this feeling
in their favor it would seem that the path
of the men who have houses to sell would
be comparatively smooth.
Such however, is not the case, and the
class of people who are house-owners re-
main small in numbers in comparison 10
the entire population. Something like 20
and % per cent of the people in such cities
as Washington, Baltimore and Philadelphia,
as is estimated by the United States census
office, are home-owners. 1t is evident
therefore. that the large proportion of
pc ople do not realize this ambition.
Favorable Rates.
There are several reasons for this condi-
ton, and one is that the average man
starting out on his career is unwilling to
| pSSiiA III si9 sHstti q way dS " dliu CA
perence would suggest. The result is that
the installments required in making the par
tial payments on home are found to be
more than it is entirely practicable for
man of limited income to meet with COM
fort. The results would be more satisfac-
tory if, instead of trying to buy a three
thousand dollar house, he was contented
with one costing half that amount, trust
ing that in the course of few years he
might he able to better himself.
On the other hand. to meet this very con-
dition and in recognition that the style of
living has charged greatly during the past
ten or fifteen years. and that more is re-
quired even in houses of moderate rentals
than were found in residences of better
class some years ago. building associations
and other agencies for the lending of money
have changed their rules that it is
possible % borrow a larger amount Of
money on the same monthly installments
than was formerly the case.
Interest and Principal.
For, example, in carrying the deferred
payments on a house the monthly charge
is only ten dollars on each one
thousand dollars. Half of this month
ly payment is the interest at the rate of 6
Per cent per year, and the other half goes
toward the liquidation of the principal. In
special cases the monthly payments are for
d reasonable period ana for substantial rea-
sens reduced simply to the interest The
principal Cfill Ht lesstItu dl any tlllle, anu
in this way the interest charge can be
reduced.
By the payment of $40 a month it is pos
shle to borrow 81 900 a house, and at
The same rate of course, $1,000 would cost
SIC per month, and $1,000 $50 per month IN
addition to the inducements in the shape
OF favorable terms the prospective house
buyer also has the prospect of an enhance
mcnt in values. which will enable him to
finally own in fee simple a piece of prop
erty which is worth a good deal more than
when it was purchased. AS a rule, how
ever, man who buys home does not
consider possible market changes, as he
expects to hold the property as long as he
and his family may need shelter
Inquiry for Suburban Homes.
A decided increase in the interest mani
Tested on the part of the public in suburban
or country real estate is reported by those
who have this class of property for sale. 1t
is evident from the nature of the inquiries
that a good many people are thinking about
getting homes in the country, and it is rea-
sonable to expect that in the near future
there will be quite an increase in the num-
ber of residents in the sections about the
city proper 1t is not surprising that such
a tendency should be manifested, for now
distance from the business center is
no longer a deterring element, and what
are known modern improvements are
available throughout a large area of the
suburbs.
1t should not be forgotten that formerly
there were certain discomforts to be con-
sidered in locating ones home in the coun-
try and certain sacrifices had to be made by
the parents and perhaps the children were
deprived of some advantages. But now all
that is changed. 1t takes no longer for
man living in Brightwood or Tenleytown or
Anacostia to reach his home nowadays over
the modern system of street railways than
it did few years ago to go to Georgetown
or to the head of 7th street or to the Navy
Yard. This circumstance alone opens up to
the choice of those whose business is in this
city the entire range of the beautiful SUBJ.
urbs for the choice of site for home.
In addition, men who have the money are
beginning to build houses in the country
for sale and for rent. In this way it is pos
sble for every one to find in the suburbs
old limits of the city. Those who do not
wish to buy lot and build can purchase
home already built, or can rent a suitable
house.
Evidences of Growth.
According to Mr. w. NJ. Terrell. with the
B. H. Warner Co., the present year has been
one of the most prosperous in the history
of Kensington. He states that a greater
number of houses have been erected and
sold there than ever before. Among those
who have recently purchased homes and
moved there is Mr. James B. Cook, chief
of division in the Post Office Department.
who has erected a handsome residence at
the corner Of Prospect and Baltimore
streets. The plans for this house were pre-
pared by Mulett & Co, architects of this
city.
Col. Andrew Geddes, chief clerk of the
Agricultural Department., has purchased a
large and commodious house on Montgom-
cry avenue, opposite the Noyes Free Lii
brary. Mr.. Cornelius Eckhardt of The
Evening Star has purchased the property
at the corner of Carroll place and Balti-
more street. This is regarded one of the
most attractive homes In the town. Mr..
Benjamin w. Kumler of the civil service
commission has purchased one of the new
houses recently completed on Washington
street.
The plans are being prepared for a num-
Der of new houses to be erected this fall.
Some improvements.
A full story, instead of the present attic
story, is to be built on the Fleming build
ing on G street near 10Th street. from
plans prepared by F. H. Jackson, archi-
teet.
st. Alban's Church, on the Protestant
Episcopal Cathedral site, is to be enlarged
An addition 28x50 feet is to be made, and
there will be new pews and the heating
system will be improved.
A hrick warehouse iS TO he erected nv