The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-01-01
VERY BUSY YEAR
IN REAL ESTATE
The Past Twelve Months Have
Brought Prosperity to Dealers
in Real Property.
ALL BUILDERS DID WELL
New Year Promises Great Things
for Men Who Deal in
Dust.

Many think 1t is unfortunate, very un-
fortunate, that there is not such thing
In Richmond as n real estate and build
ing exchange. Such an institution. II
there were one. could furnish accurate
statistics as to the amount of money that
annually changes hands in real estate
transactions hereabouts and could also
furnish some figures as to the amount of
money paid out for new houses and
other building improvements.
There is, however, no such organiza-
ton. Therefore review of the real es-
tate business and of the building opera
tons in and around Richmond for the
past year must necessarily be In meas
ure a. general commentary without abso-
Lutte figures to sustain It.
However, blind man. IL he had ears,
need not be told that the year 1905 was
record breaker in the matter OF real es-
tate business transacted
The volume OF business done in the
swapping OF money for Richmond prop
erty and in investing money in houses
was near as large in the history OF the
city as in the year just closed, II the
year following the civil war, when Rich
mond had to rebuild from the ground ar
is possible that more bricks were laid
and more shingles nailed on In the two
years Immediately T5lowing the war
than In the year which has just closed,
but this Is by no means certain.
There can be no gainsaying the fact
that the year 1905 has shown q larger
volume OF business done in real estate
and in home building than any ordinary
year since Richmond has been city.
A tiome Building Year.
have been built more old homes have
been improved, and more costly business
houses have been erected in the past
year than in any previous twelve months
In Richmond's history barring the excep-
ton already mentioned.
A study of the bulletin boards OF the
real estate and rental agents shows that
fewer houses are tenantless. fewer are
being offered for rent, and fewer are
seeking renters than ever before known
at this season of the year. This fact com
Ing right in the face Of the other fact that
more houses have been built for rent
In the past year than ever before known
in the history of Richmond naturally
leads to the conclusion that Richmond
has grown wonderfully in population dur
ing the past year.
Richmonds growth and upbuilding has
not been confined to any one locality. 1t
is possible, indeed 1t is fact, that more
new houses have been built in the West
End than in other sections. but the build
ing boom has not been confined to that
region. The contractors and the archi-
tects tell the Times Dispatch that their
away out in the suburbs. They further
say that the year just closed has witness
ed more substantial and profitable build
ing in Richmond than Richmond has ever
before known In the same length csS3nle
The Builder S Boom.
To prove this. they point to the facts:
First. that there are more builders and
contractors here than ever before known;
second. they are builders and contrac-
tors on larger scale than ever before
No. ,t,1 49,. D1v,1,
worknren than ever before: and fourth,
all of them have made money and not q
single one has failed or become hnan-
cially embarrassed during the past year.
This fourth proposition, which cannot be
denied, speaks volumes and tells graft
flying story within itself.
The outlook for the new year. just be-
fore us, Is pleasing to the real estate
men and the house builders.
A well known real estate man SUMS up
the situation briefly as follows:
THE year 1905 In real estate has been
somewhat of a banner year. Marked i'm
provements have been noticed all along
the line, and does not seem to be con-
fined to- any particular section. While 1t
full appreciation in value. and still more
wonderful development In the way Of
new buildings. yet the Improvement in
real estate values is by no means con-
is as stable and gilt-edge as ever. Main
street from First to Seventh has had as
wonderful Improvement as any other sec
ton of Richmond-in fact. Main street
property is as scarce and as much in de-
mand as Broad street property, and many
improvements have been completed and
are now under way on this the princi-
pal business street of Richmond. Church
Hill, as we'll as the rest of the city. has
held It's own. and business sites with
railroad facilities are always saleab!e and
in demand.
"The outlook for the coming year was
never more promising, and good bl,st-
ness is expected, not only in city. prop
erty, but in farm property as we'll. In
quiries are steadily coming In to nll
agents who deal In farm lands from
humble settler up to the millionaire who
wants to. buy for pleasure and sport. as
well as from colonization societies from
foreign countries for the purpose of set
Ting and developing colonies of their re-
spective nationaities.
"Rlchmond suburban property has made
wonderful strides in the past twelve
months. While there Is no semblance
whatever of a boom, 1t is predicted that
improvements and values for the coming
year will increase more largely than they
have in the past year"