Omaha daily bee., 1907-05-12
COUNCIL BLUFFS IS BUSY
Great Activity in Real Estate and Building
Over There.
PRESENT YEAR BEST IN TOWNS HISTORY
Building Record for Four Months of
1907 Almost Equals Entire Year
of 1000 and No Sign of
s1RckeninE Up.

City property in Council Bluffs and farm
land In Pottawattamie county are in ac-
tive demand and In some respects, it might
be said with truth, the demand exceeds the
supply. Real estate dealers say that never
in the history of Council Bluffs. with the
exception of the boom In the early SOS,
which had its disastrous reaction, has real
estate been selling at so near its proper
value as is now the case. Since the re-
action following the boom with its in
fiated prices. real estate until within the
last two OF three years has been to a great
extent drug on the market. This refers
to city lots and especially those in the
outlying districts. The last twelve months,
however, has seen a marked change and
the demand for city, more particularly resi-
dence property, is exceedingly brisk. With
the increased demand there has naturally
come an increase in prices. These prices
are not inflated. but the result Of good,
consistent growth OF the city.
improvements in various sections of the
city have started the selling prices upward
and the property is moving rapidly at these
prices. Vacant lots in the more thiekly
settled parts of the city are higher than
ever for the reason that they are becom-
ing scarcer. They are all being taken up
for building purposes. It has been gener-
ally conceded that property values have
been lower in Council Bluffs than in any
other city Of its size and character. and
even lower than in many smaller towns,
but they are now coming up to what they
ought to be- Owners OF city property who
have held onto their holdings with grim
determination through the years OF depres-
sion in the real estate market with the
hope of some day being able to realize the
proper value Of their property now smile
with compliment satisfaction. They are
reaping the reward Of their faith in Coun-
ell Bluffs realty.
Demand for Homes.
While there has been more or less prop
erty purchased for speculation, the principal
demand today in Council BLUFFS is for resi-
dence lots. Council Bluffs has always been
essentially q city of homes, and If any
thing, this is true today more than ever.
Most OF the property bought within the last
twelve months has been acquired by per-
sons to erect homes on and in every sec
ton Of the city new houses can be seen
in the course of erection.
The western part OF the city-that lying
Immediately south and north of the motor
line between this city and Omaha-has wit
messed a phenomenal growth during the
last year. Hundreds OF new homes nave
been erected and new ones in course Of
construction are to be seen on every side.
While the residences in this section Of the
city are OF more moderate size and cost
than is the case in other residence parts Of
the city, they are the homes Of the work.
ing class and as such are a striking index
OF the prosperity of the people OF Council
BLUFFS. But few residences, comparatively,
have been or are being erected for rental
purposes. by far the greater number of
the houses built within the last twelve
months or now being built being put up by
the persons who have bought the site and
are building for a home.
What Building Records show.
While the record Of building permits
issued by the city clerk is far from an
accurate criterion, It is at least fairly good