The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-03-27
IT LOOKS BRIGHT
Real Estate Conditions in To-
peka Never Better.
Demand for Rental Property
Exceeds the Supply.
PROPERTY is MOVING
Brisk Demand for Vacant Lots
for Building.
Prices Are Holding Up Well,
Say the Dealers.

They say that the demand for steel
is the thermometer of the country's
prosperity. This is doubtless true,
and it is also a fact that the demand
for real estate is in the index of a
citys prosperity. This being the case,
Topeka is in a most flourishing condi-
ton There is a healthy activity in
real estate circles here, prices are
firm and higher and the supply of
houses will not meet the present de-
mand of the renters. More residences
were built here last year than ever
before in the city's history, yet there
is a scarcity of houses and many real
estate men are turning down prospec-
tive renters. There is every indica-
ton that as many residences will be
built here this year as there was
last. Any way, the demand for them
is as urgent as it ever was and the
investment looks good.
The real estate man sits with his
finger on the pulse of the business
life of a city at all the time, SO it is
to him one must turn to get a quick
and accurate estimate of the pros
perity or depression of the city. If
business is good and the city grow
ing who knows this fact so fully and
well as the real estate man? He feels
it in the demand for real estate and
the application of renters for business
and dwelling houses. The least de-
preston is felt by the real estate
man. His business is only good in
rushing times and in dun times his
business suffers more than that of
any other line of trade.
The State Journal interviewed sew
eral Of the leading real estate men
of the city today in regard to the de-
mand for houses and real estate and
of he In, II o;f +
the present time and also secured
comparisons with past years and pre-
dictions for the future.
The reporter went first to one of
the oldest and largest firms in the
city and asked about the demand for
houses to rent There is strong
demand right now for rental prop
erty, said the gentleman, the great
est I have ever known here at this
time of year. This agency cannot
supply the demand for cottages, es-
pecially. We turned away four
applicants today. The prices for rent
on all kinds of property are holding
up we'll. I should say that rents are
rather high here right now You
know that high rents are the surest
kind of sign of a city's prosperity.
''The city is growing southwest and
west in the main,i although there are
lot of improvements completed and
in prospect in every section of the
city. The greatest demand is for
residence property close in. The de-
mand is far in excess of the supply
at present.
In speaking of the demand for
suburban property all the real es-
tate men were agreed that all the
suburbs touched by a car line were
good propositions for the investor
They stated that there We're but few
vacant houses in these suburbs and
the indications are that a great deal
of building will be done in the out
skirts OF the city this summer
One real estate man said that the
prices for real estate in both the resi-
dence and business section are now
higher than ever before in the history
Of the city He also stated that
there was now a brisk demand for
vacant lots for building purposes.
Said another well known dealer: 81
have never before known such a large