The San Francisco call., 1908-10-31
AGENTS RESPONSIBLE
FOR Dull MARKET
Real Estate Firms Boosted
Prices Too High After
the Big Fire
Impossible TO Get Investor and
Seller Together on Strictly
Business Basis

A novel explanation is made by some
OF the real estate operators for the al
legged dullness OF the market. which is
all the more interesting. as they claim
that the fault lies. not with the in
vestor, but with the real estate man
himself
These gentlemen assert that in the
days succeeding the fire several real
estate firms. thinking TO boost their
business and 10 boom the market
quoted fictitious prices far in excess of
% those actually paid. and by these
meal rs ruined. the market
p. I'M many cases figures so far above
actual values We're given that pros
!, pectve purchasers were driven from
the heId. and those who had property.
.+Wslich they were anxious to sell. had
= their tdeas OF values so inflated by
: these false quotations that they were
% una approachable.
:. ,2nstance after instance was given
= OF sales. when the true amount in
.volved was not given. but a few thou
SANDS above what was paid actually
+: was caused 10 be published. and judg-
ing from what is said by different
real estate men upon this subject, an
effort Will be made by some of them
70 induce others 10 be more exact in
their statements as 10 prices paid for
city real estate.
HIGH ENOUGH ALREADY
g.. II is alleged by most OF the real
estate operators that property is held
: high enough already, and that IL any
one ina gines he can pick up a bargain
IN real estate he will find himself in
error. Therefore II is imperative on
the part OF all real estate operators
not 70 initiate values. and ii is asserted
tnat by strictly adhering TO the truth
real estate agents viii do more 10
boom the market than by quoting fig
"ures which have a tendency to frighten
buyers and 10 make sellers place a too
high value on their holdings.
This real estate man confesses that
b.: in the days following the fire he was
guilty along with others OF resorting
70. this method of booming the market
but lately he has seen the error OF his
ways and has determined upon reform
:. and VIII in all cases tell the truth as
to the amount paid for all sales made
by his firm.
IN DEADLY EARNEST
- 4 am in earnest in what I say" he
concluded, and I think il should be
the duty OF every man who intends to
.. bus. property 10 make himself familiar
, with conditions and not rely upon what
he Is told.
, "It is easy TO ascertain the truth.
- There is. I am glad 10 say, growing
: tendency 10 represent facts as they
are. for there are others like myself
q who have discovered that we are 10
- blame for this unsettled condition as
J. 70 values
- 4 viii quote an instance Of this in
:. which I was interested personally. ]
wanted 20 make a purchase as an
agent, and was told TO bid so much
for a certain piece Of property by my
?. client. It was a fair valuation. for the
. lot adjoining had been sold for abou;
the sum we proposed TO pay.
we were laughed al. The man said
.. he would be foolish TO part with his
holding for that figure, when his neigh
p. Dor with 2 less desirable lot received q
great deal more. I tried to convince
him that we were offering a little ir
. excess OF what was paid actually fol
the adjoining lot, but he refused tc
accept our version
There was good bargain spoiled
because Of an untruth
- This matter viii have to be taker
before the real estate board and some
of Us viii have 10 try and get more
truthful spirit injected into the nara.
tives Of reported land sales"