The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-08-07
MANY PEOPLE ARE NOW BUYING HOMES Real Estate Market of Birming-
 ham Very Active GOOD HOUSES ARE BUILT Architects Are Now Working Night and Day to Get Plans and speoif-
 cations Ready fop the
 Contractors.
GOOD HOUSES ARE BUILT

About twice as much money is being in- vested in the erection of private resi- dences in Birmingham today as ever be- fore in the history of the city. This is evidenced by the large number of houses being built on the North Highlands, around Highland avenue and in many places on South Highlands.
 Not only are more houses being built, but the houses are of a superior grade to those erected in the past. Among the houses being built are some costing from 5000 to s20,O00 The sale of real es- tate Is also going on rapidly, the maior- ity of the sales being residence prop erty.
 While 1t Is true that there are few unoecupled houses In the city at present, most of them are said to be out of re- pairs It Is impossible to fad many emp ty houses of what might be called the finer class. and many of those which are vacant were left so by people moving into their own homes.
 Own Their Own Homes. At the end of this year there will be more homes owned than any time in the city's history A large percentage of the building which is going on is in homes. and they are all of the better class.
 Most of the houses in course of con struetion are on the North Highlands, and the erection of the new school building In that section, and the fact that the high school will be built on the north side have tended to increase the value of property in those neighborhoods.
 Architects in the city are working night and day getting their specifications ready. and each and every one of them has his hands full of work More than one has sent out of the city for aid, and during the past week two or three of them worked until late at night finishing plans.
 Several real estate men state that their sales have been vety good In residence property. No very large sales are record ed, but there is a constant demand for good property.
 Mir. Fulenwider Talks.
 A. L. Fulenwider of the Birmingham Realty company said yesterday:
 During the last month our sales amounted to about $35, GOO, and they were all transfers of residence property In Norwood, the new section we opened up. fifteen well-known men have purchased property in the past few days and every one of them intends erecting n home. Among those who purchased lots with the intention of building were W. W. Bussey, R. E. Orr, B. F. Hill, W. T. Giles, G. NJ. Porter. Sam P. Moore, l., c. Wilson, Robert A. Porter. Luther F. Reynolds, Ben Johnson. Daniel A. Ream- CT, C. w. Mathesson. J. II. Newmon and Joseph Johnson.
 Tn Norwood pr. F. H. Presley. c. W. Frickhoffer. S. B. Slater and J. R. Rob- erts are already building homes, so that makes about twenty which will be fin- ished within short time.
 We have not a single house in a good locality that is for renr, ana whenever there is one the demand for it is in- stantaneous, None of the better class of residences are for rent at present, and those which have the for rent signs on them are of the cheaper grade or either they are not in good repairs
 Much property in Birmingham Is owned by foreign capital, and as a rule they do not keep up their property as local owners would do. To a greater extent each year the property of Birmingham Is being bought by local people. and they are improving 1t rapidly.
 In Course of Construction.
 "A number of houses costing from 5000 to $10,0O0 are in the course of construc- tion in different parts of the city, and several costing from slOOOO to $2O0OO are either being built or are contemplated. don't believe that ever before were so many residences in the course of con struction in Birmingham, or that they were of such a class as the houses going up today.
 "An of our people have money as is shown by the bank deposits. The size of crops this year. the prospects for cot ton and other general conditions around the country have put the farmers and the people In easy circumstances. and they are spending money Of course the strike is hurting things to q certain extent in Birmingham. The national political situ- alton is not so much a matter of doubt as 1t was, and business is hrmer."