Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-06-25
REAL ESTATE GOSSIP
Additions Made to the Num-
Der of Houses.
THE OWNERS OF HOMES
APPARENT LET UP IN THE FLAT
BUILDING ACTIVITY.
Phases Of the Market-What Is Being
Done In Various Sec
lions Of City.
THE OWNERS OF HOMES


large apartment houses are going through
| the finishing processes. and Will De ready u
| be opened early In the coming fall. This
does not comprise all the activity along this
line. for there are several other apartment
houses throughout the city which are In va
rious stages of construction. The latter
however. are not Of the larger type. neither
do they go to the other extreme OF p"i'oiis'
NJ that character and are not confined TO TWO
stories each floor containing one suite or
rooms OF the latter class good many are
being built as they seem to suit both those
who want to live in flats of moderate size
and cost and also those who like to get IN
a way Of finally owning their own homes
1t Is quite evident that there Is let-up
in this particular form Of building ACTIVITY
in this city. and for one reason or another
1t appears that apartment mousse puliuihS
for the time at least has practically ceased
When taken in connection with the general
condition of the building market there Is
nothing in such facts to indicate that the
vogue for buildings of that sort has dlea
out because there is general let-up IN
building along all lines. STILL some are OF
the opinion that perhaps the limit of safety
has been nearly reached In the matter OF
adding to apartment houses here Inc re-
markable success OF this movement and the
variety OF accommodations PROVIDED gives
this city rank with any place in the country
in this particular. There are examples mere
of all grades of such structures, ana from
the sumptuous fiat finished In hard woods
to the plainly fitted up apartment In
modest house there Is no type In the va
riety that cannot be found in some building
in this city.
A Market for Houses.
While there are no actual figures showing
the extent of house buying in this city yet
there is no doubt among those who have
opportunities of being familiar with the
facts that such buying is extensive and Is
constantly increasing. This Is the eXpiana-
ton of the additions in recent years to the
closely built-up part of the city Of extensive
areas of land. which have been rapidly COW
cred with houses. While to a consid-
cradle extent this activity has been
due to what is known as specu-
lative building, that is. the erection OF
houses for the market, yet 1t is also true
that but a small proportion of such struc-
lures have been put up with the purpose or
renting them using them as perma-
nent investment. 1t has evidently been
recognized by men who have had the money
to invest and the ability to superintend
large building operations that there was
and is a market here for houses.
In this conclusion they have not been
disappointed. as any one would conclude
after going over the sections of the city
where building activities have been most
marked. One OF the most impressive evil
denceS of the growth of the city is to be
found in localities where are to be seen row
after row of handsome houses occupying
ground which a few years or even months
ago in whole or in part commons. 1t
seems that what may be looked upor
the equivalent of good sized towns, have
been built up in this way so great has been
the growth of the population or the Increase
in the houses. At any rate many place
that Is properly regarded as town. II not a
small city, does not comprise within its linn
its as many houses are to be found in
Bloomingdale. or Columbia Heights. or
Washington Heights. or in the section in
tn eastern part OF the city In the vicinity
Of Lincoln Park.
Owners, Not Renters.
These houses have been built and in many
Instances have been sold before completed.
The proportion Of people who occupy them
as tenants to the number who own their
houses is a small one. These colonies OF
home owners are not composed of those
who have paid the entire purchase money
down. but more frequently people who are
gradually paying for their homes The SUBJ
stantial character of persons of that sort Is,
Of course. we'll understood. and this phase
Of the growth Of the city may be looked
upon as an indication that the progress OF
the past few years Is not OF himsy
character.
There are one or two reasons why the
home buying is perhaps more general
Just now than ever before, and one Is the
attractive and desirable houses that are
offered we'll as the easy terms upon
which they can be secured. 1t be
demonstrated. no doubt. in a large num-
Der of instances that Independent of
other considerations. it is cheaper to buy
| than to rent. and that sort of argument
appeals to the majority of people who
share in that very general desire to own
some portion of the earth's surface even
though 1t be but a triliing part 1t is es-
pecially attractive to the average man
and woman. and more particularly the
latter. to have in view the owning of the
home. and sacrifices to accomplish that
object are borne cheerfully and willingly.
Ambition Of Home Buyers.
The facilities that are offered to per-
sons who have but little cash to make a
beginning toward buying home are many
and consist of easy payments distributed
through the year in monthly installments
with the opportunity to reduce the prin-
cipal at any time it happens that the
money comes to hand. There are low
rates of interest and second deeds of
| trust where the amount is considered too
large for the principal loan. and other
devices by which people without money
can become purchasers of real estate 1t
Is considered that an obligation of this sort
induces economy and is rather good
thing for the average household as the
tendency Is to curtail some unnecessary
expenses in order that the entire financial
force or the family may be directed
| toward the one point of paying for the
home.
While the building of apartment houses
| has been one Of the features Of the
| recent development OF the city. yet 1t is
quite evident from the attention given to
house building that the fiat has not vet
| taken the place OF the individual house
! Some have supposed that was exactly
| what was happening. but in this they were
wrong, just as those were who supposed
that when electric lighting became prac-
| teal 1t would take the place of gas The
| fact Is. as every one knows that while
| the use of electricity for illumination has
| gone on developing. yet at the same time
| the use of gas has increased. use has
| been found for both. and so 1t is with re-
sspect to apartment houses and individual
| houses.
Mr.. Ferrell's Residence.
Speiden & Speiden. architects. have pre-
| pared plans from which Mr. ]. c. Fer
| rell VIII erect a residence on Baltimore
| street. Clifbourne. The house will have a
frontage of % feet inches by a depth Of
| 40 feet. and will be three stories in height
| The first floor will contain parlor. recep.
| ton hall. dining room, kitchen and pantry
| while six chambers and two bath rooms
| will be provided on the floors above The
| urinciDai rooms on the first fnor will h.