Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-12-26
LIST OF CHRISTMAS GIFTS
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
Spirit of the Holiday Season When Applied to
Buying Is Wise Method of Procedure.

Another Christmas has come and gone
and many persons have not attained the
thing which is dearest to their hearts, the
ownership Of the house In which they live,
or even made a start in that direction. 1t
is not common for house and lot to
come within the usual idea of Christ
mas gift. and the thought of the ex-
change OF such presents Is, Of course, i'm
| possible.
| But there is nothing unreasonable or
Impractical in the general thought under
lying the custom of Christmas giving as
applied to a home. 1t goes without say
ing that the prospects OF having house
which eventually she can speak or as nei
home would be source of much JOY ana
satisfaction to the average wire anu
| mother.
Not Exactly an Improvement.
| Even a house with most of the purchase
money to be paid would be welcome, as
| that is a condition which time can soften
and improve. AS an Improvement mort
gage is not looked upon with favor' at
| least by the feminine party In the all
ance matrimonial, especially II II is 10
ha annlied to the home. But as means
| NJ hecoming the owner of the home the
mortgage is welcomed as fr1end. ano
when properly treated turns out IN the
end to be really in that class.
Whether the house has sucn an dl.aIn :
ment or not it would be most acceptable
| to the average wife, who. ike mos
| women. love their homes. In ADDITION u
| proving a welcome gift such purchase
can be financed in accordance WIN inc
| ability of the purchaser to carry II, SO
| that such a proposition makes a wide ap-
neal The home owner is no longer con-
! fined to the class of the wealthy or even
| the well-to-do. The foundations OF nome
| ownership are often laid in the early DAYS
| of married life when the income Is sfiaii
! and the demands on 1t large
Adds to the Reputation.
| The mere fact that man wants to
| buy a home is evidence of character and
| Willingness to practice habits of economy
that are in itself almost sufficient TO
guarantee his credit. At any rate. men
who have houses TO sell are willing to
| dispose Of them to such buyers on almost
! any terms Of credit. The latter are made
| TO suit the conditions. There is little
cash among buyers OF this class. and
hence but little cash is required. The un-
DERIVING principle Of such transactions is
the faith that men and women who start
| to buy their homes are going to sacrifice
almost anything in order to succeed, and
SO that sort of credit stands very high.
OF course, entering into such an enter
prise with a small amount of money is
no. recommended II it can possibly be
avoided. At the same time it is the be-
lief OF many that 1t is much better in the
long run for the average man to start
on the road to become home owner
without cash or a very small cash pay
ment rather than not start at all. The
larger the initial cash payment the bet
ter that is generally recognized. and also
1t Is important that the kind Of house
| selected should be in keeping with the
| means available for its purchase.
Income and the House.
A family with an income suitable for
living in a three-thousand-do llar-house
would make mistake in buying house
and agreeing to pay 25 per cent or 50 per
cent or more for it. When the income
increases then will be time enough to
think of a more expensive house, but In
the meanwhile there is no rule quite as
good as the homely one OF choosing pat
tern to suit the cloth.
In these days, when the distinctions be-
tween mill1onaires and other folk In the
way of living have practically been OBJ
liberated, there fs a great temptation to
make mistake OF this sort at the start
and undertake to buy a house that costs
more than the income warrants in pay
ing. The choice is a. wide one. and when
one looks around at the sort Of house that
is on the market and available for those
looking for homes 1t Is impossible TO
check EXPLANATIONS Of surprise at what
can be had for the money
Buying Easier Than Formerly.
1t is not only easier now for people to
buy homestead Is. the terms are more
generous and suited for the special needs
but it is also possible to get much more
for ones money in the way of house
than at any other period In the history
OF this city or of any other. 1T may also
be said that never before, certainly In
the history OF this city. are as many peo-
pie buying their homes rs Is the case at
present This process has not pust begun,
az there are many who have reached the
end Of the homecoming road and can
rsad their title clear.
Washington IL each year making more
definite and positive its title to being the
residence city of the country. Such
title rests not upon the groups of homes
of the wealthy, which are to be found
here and which contribute so much to
the beauty and attractiveness of the city.