Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-12-15
REAL ESTATE GOSSIP
Current Market Conditions and
the Outlook.
ONE FEATURE OF BUILDING
Making Use of the Chance Offered for
Investment.
GOOD OPENINGS FOR MONEY
Influence of the Season as Manifested
in Volume of Business
Being Done.
ONE FEATURE OF BUILDING
GOOD OPENINGS FOR MONEY

-DeluS COhSs
As is usual at this time of the year. lull
has occurred in the real estate market
There Is not the same interest on the part
of prospective buyers that brokers like TO
find and that tends to deal being MADE
There is, of course, the average run OF
business but in large way there is moth
ing being done, and what is more. not much
is expected until after the holidays. In
fact, the close of that period will not end
the dullness, if the usual course Is followed
as observed in former years.
No doubt Christmas shopping has some
thing to do with the falling away of interest
on the part of the buying public in the mar
ket but the main cause is the time OF year.
While there is not much being done in the
way of actual transactions, still the realty
market and its concerns are not being over
looked either by the buying public or the
broker. In one sense the season Is one OF
preparation for the period that is to come,
when it is hoped and expected there Will
be a renewal of activity.
Prospect of Building. IT,.
In most years these current weeks and
those which are to follow are busy times
in the offices of architects, for plans are
being prepared for structures which are
to be begun at the opening of the building
season. There is not much In prospect OF
this sort just now. and the outlook for
busy building season is not very clear from
the present point Of view. OF course. IN
such state Of affairs. and, indeed, that
has always been the case to very large
extent the activity Of the coming building
season will depend largely upon the con-
dition of the money market. II there are
funds to be had the chances are the build
ing of houses and Of apartments, 10 say
nothing of business buildings, will go on
An impression seems to prevail among
those who lend money for such purposes
that there have been quite enough houses
and apartments built to meet present wants
The renting season which has just closed
did not Snow exactly an oVersuppiy OF
such structures of either class, but 1t was
the experience of men who have apartment
buildings in charge that 1t cost more money
to get tenants and more time and enort
than heretofore From that fact the con-
cIusion was reached that the limit of supply
for such buildings had been about reached
for the present. 1t is. of course. Impossible
to say whether that will still be the point
of view later In the season.
AS to houses, the market for them does
not seem to be regarded as having oeen
as fully supplied as in the case or the
other class of buildings, but still 1t Is evil
dent that the tendency now Is to go rather
slow and await further development In
order to find out more exactly what is the
actual condition.
Remarkable Condition.
The wonderful market for living accom-
modations In this city which has prevailed
for the past two years ,still continues to
excite surprise even in the minds of those
most familiar with the situation. 1t Is
still common to hear Where do all the
people come FROM" The query is one that
no one has been able to answer. OF
course. replies are made and have always
been made but still 1t Is recognized that
the prosperity in the realty market Is due
to variety of causes.
Some idea of the current condition may
be had from the casual conversation OF two
citizens who were talking about the situa-
ton in various sections of the city. One of
them observed that during the present year
about hundred houses had been built
in the vicinity of Lincoln Park, within
couple of squares. The expenditure was at
least half million dollars in that one To-
cality, and If all the improvements in the
city were. confined to what had been done
there the record would not be as remark
able.
Not in Any One Section.
The fact of the matter is, the Lincoln
Park region has not been the only section
OF the city that has been favored with
phenomenal building operations. There are
other localities, where row after row of
houses has been put up. and In such num-
bers as to confuse even the minds of the
old citizen who has not been moving about
the city recently. 1t Is easy to lose ones
bearings in and about the city at present,
that is, If reliance is placed exclusively on
old landmarks, for In great part the latter
have disappeared to give place to modern
buildings.
Some men supposed to be familiar with
what is going on in the realty market are
inclined to believe 1t would be just as we'll
II building was not very active during the
coming season. in order that il there is any
surplus a chance will be given to work 1t
of before further additions to the number
of living places are made.
1t is not meant to be inferred that this is
a general opinion, but 1t is given as an
illustration of the current of some of the
talk that is heard
Course Of Buying.
1.-THE forecast 1 gave you In the early
part of the past summer of the realty stu
alton in this city and its probable develop
ment has been more than fulfilled q
large Independent operator in real estate
remarked to Star reporter, land in COM
mon with other citizens who have the de-
velopment and expansion of the capital at
heart the fact that the views then ex-
pressed. which may at the time have SEEM
ed somewhat optimistic. have been substan-
tiated is matter OF congratulation.
1T is sometimes truthfully said that
things which are the closest to US are the
most easily overlooked. Very often while
home capital is hesitating outside capital
steps in and takes advantage of opportun-
tiles. In this connection 1t Is a matter Of
interest that some of our largest purchases
OF realty. and in the most valuable sections
Of town. have been made by wealthy men
from other sections and cities. who have
either acquired q home In Washington or
have placed their money literally here In
heavy permanent Investments and improve
ments.
THE present activity Of the market and
the Steadiness with which prices have held
up has many contributing reasons, but one
of these, and a very important one. is the
fact that within the past few years millions
of this and other outside capital have found
a Judgment with US In permanent invest
ments.
The Smaller Interests.
1.-The many changes and acquisitions Of
large individual pieces OF property in the
business sections of town. either because Of
their present interest-yielding capacities or