Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-12-21

selfish as TO give her a set OF dining room
chairs. or any other thing which is TO be
used in common.
Popular With Wives.
1t is likely such reflection upon the
motives of the giver would not occur to
the average wife In the face of such gift
Unless she is unlike the large proportion
of her sex the prospect of having a home
which she could think of as her own
would swallow up any other considera-
ton, and even IL the gift was still to De
paid for as the outcome OF the self-denial
and saving of both husband and wife.
still there are but few women who would
rot cheerfully undertake to follow that
course II they knew the goal was the
ownership of the house where they lived
Home-buying has become so general IN
this city during the past few years ana
the opportunities for doing this-the at
tractive offers made, and in the easy
plans of payment. are SO inviting-that 1t
is not a proposition with any great nov
city. There is another phase of the situ-
alton here, which is that the cases OF
failure with people who start out on the
road which ends In the ownership or =
home are SO infrequent that this In itself
is a strong inducsment. For what others
have DONE 1t is quite evident the indi-
viduaI contemplating the stop will feel en-
to believe he can do.
They All Like It.
It must be acknowledged that house.
even a small one, is rather large for q
Christmas stocking, but 1t goes without
saying that there are but few women who
would not be willing to see the stocking
stretched, and even wrecked, II 1t only
conveyed present OF the kind. In other
words, there are but few wives who are
not willing to encounter the sacrifices
which such a gift would entail in the do
mestic life during the period the payments
on the house are being prov.aed for.
1t Is probable there is no proposition
that is quite as popular In the average
household as one that looks to securing
permanent hold on the home. Whether or
not such a course Is adopted with little
money or a comparatively large amount
rule, be found to be on the side of making
the attempt. If there are children old
enough to appreciate the situation they
are also advocates of the ownership OF the
house where they reside. and when 1t
comes right down to the question itself
there are but few men who do not take
to the idea.
High Grade of House:
In other words, home owning is an i'm
mensely popular policy In the average
American home. and that fact is recog-
nized by the facilities and inducements
that are presented to the public. Perhaps
as the general taste in regard to houses,
their interior arrangement and their out
ward appearance. To such an extent has
this been carried that the house now
marvel in the way of convenience and
comfort. Joined with a pleasing effect. 1t
is difficult to understand how as much
can be given for the money asked.
An ordinarily good Judge Of real estate
values. unless he has kept posted on re-
cent developments in house building, would
b. apt to go widely astray in forming an
estimate as to the asking prices in such
cases. 1t Is not surprising then that houses
should be thought worthy to be placed in
the list of things to be given at this sea-
son Of the year to those whom one wishes
to please.
More Money Available.
The loosening Of money. which is ex-
pected as conditions in the business and
in the financial worlds gradually improve.
is likely to be felt as soon in the real es-
tate market as elsewhere In consequence
of the well-known tendency of human ma
ture to proceed with caution when coming
from period of financial stringency. The
safest things will be what will attract the
Investment of funds. during the early
stages of the recovery, at any rate. This
is seen in the present phase of the stock
market when stocks are almost entirely
neglected and bonds are the favorites
with the small section of the public that
is in the market at all.
1t is supposed that, following the usual
course, as confidence becomes more and
more general, investors will find cour-
age to branch out in broader field. Real
estate bears the same relation to all
classes of investments that bonds do to
stocks. In fact, it is the experience when
people are willing to allow their money
to get out of their keeping only after the
exercise of the greatest caution that real
estate investments find much favor.
A Source of Confidence.
AS compared with other lines where a
return is sought for invested funds there
is safety and sureness about realty that
appeals to the average mind and in itself
serves to impart confidence, which is such
an essential In all classes of investment.
This quality of realty is noticeable at this
time, and while in the sales department
of the business there has not been a great
deal of activity of recent weeks any more
than in other lines of business, still some
thing has been done, and even during the
height of the late financial stringency peo-
pie were buying realty. especially houses.
so that at no time has the market entirely
disappeared or ceased all action.
Another characteristic feature of the
situation is that just now when collateral
loans are not obtanable as rule, real
estate loans are being made. In fact.
about the the first sign Of an improve
ment In the business situation was the
furnishing of supply of money for such
a purpose. or course, 1t is not meant
that purely speculative enterprises are
financed.
AS to Interest Rates.
But loans are to be had on desirable
property, and in this particular the mar
ket is tending toward the normal At
the. present time the rate of interest shows
an increase as compared with other
periods in recent months. Just now the
prevailing rate of interest is per cent,
which is an advance from per cent.
However, that increase is due to current
conditions and not to any depreciation in
realty values or any falling OF In the
of those who have money TO
lend in the desirability of Washington
real estate.
The past shows that money has been
loaped on real estate in this city as low
AS per cent, and there are. perhaps.
Instances where even a lower rate has
been given. Bot at any rate real estate
her. has displayed some of the qualities
Of such property in such a center as New
York where the decline in the rate OF
interest in late years has accompanied