Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-05-30
REAL ESTATE GOSSIP
A Feature of Interest About
the Market.
THE DAY OF HOME-BUYERS
Individual Attention Given to Sur
roundings of House.
EXPANSION OF COUNTRY LIFE
Progress Made In the Erection Of
Large Building for School
Purposes-other Matters.
EXPANSION OF COUNTRY LIFE

One sign of the times that has consid-
cradle significance is the market that ex-
lists for vacant ground or. mere properly
speaking. building sites for houses. A
Qualification demanded by those who are
looking for such property is low price.
They want ground at such figure as will
enable them to build and sell houses at a
reasonable profit. While to some extent
the market value of land fuctuates,
other elements in the cost of houses.
namely. material and labor. are apt to
vary but slightly. it at all. during sea-
son.
Just now and for the current season
there is reported to be a decrease in the
cost Of building due to lower prices. quot
ed for some classes of materials used, and
also due to better days work given by
mechanics. At the same time the de-
mand for houses is said to be good. Quite
a number are sold, especially to those who
want homes.
1t may be said the practice of renting is
giving way largely to the practice of buy
ing. When the meaning of such a move
ment is fully appreciated 1t Will Be re-
garded as perhaps the most important de-
velopment of the realty market of recent
years.
Of Moderate Means.
The main buying of homes comes from
people of moderate means 1t is not
likely they would place their hard
earned savings in investments Of this
kind if they did not feel assured of the
substantial character of this interest in
this city. At the same time people who
undertake to buy home by gradual pay
ments are steady and industrious, a VAL
liable element In any community.
of Foaf ,Yro Of
ket is evidence of the appreciation of real
estate, not so much in current prices in
permanent values 1t is the sort of thing
that lowers the rate of interest on real
sirable and sought after and places
realty in the class of gilt-edged invest
ments.
New School Building.
Progress is being made in preparation
for beginning the construction of a
building at the southwest corner of Cali
fornia avenue and Phelps place for St
Rose Industrial School. The site is am
pie and the new building will stand en-
tirely detached II will be four stories
high. with a finished basement ana will
cover an area Of 1859 by 1910 feet
Brick. granite. brownstone and orna-
mental terra Gotta are. the materials
which will enter into the construction of
the facade. while the interior will be
made mi-freproof.
II will contain all the modern improve
ments and convenierces for the purpose
for which il is TO be used and will cost
approximately $l.0Vn Inc structure
will some what resemble the 81. Joseph S
School of Industry recently completed in
Baltimore, also designed by rancis E.
Tormey. architect. of Baltimore who
prepared the plans for the building to be
erected in this city.
Care for Home Surroundings.
The interest displayed in the surround
!ngs OF ones home seems 10 be quite
general in this city. Judging from what is
done 10 keep the parking in front of
houses in good order and in making the
front yards attractive ard adjoining ham
with flowers and shrubbery. The space
In the rear of houses is not neglected. So
that back and front there are to be found
smooth stretches of turf and the bright
ness OF flowers.
This general attention TO such details
of living which is not SO common in other
places where il is necessary TO form as
sociatons to stimulate this very thing is
no doubt due. in some measure at least.
to the influence of the surroundings and
10 the force of public opinion as silently
expressed in the care and attention given
to such matters There Is no question
that the city itself is a source of educa-
tIOI! III tIiS respect Will It's Fo"S~D1 trees
adjoining the streets and the parks and
spaces which ARE centers of brilliant
masses OF foliage plants and OF flowers
Forest Effects in the City.
In these days OF bright sunlight now
that the leaves are fully out and the
streets are embowered In masses OF TO-
liage. the effect is like that which one
has in walking through a forest with the
sunbeams glintlng through the over
hanging branches and fecking the ground
with patches OF waving light. The Thu
sion is fairly complete, for the houses arc
hardly 10 be seen. and even the street
pavement sostsned by the setting OF
greenery. does not appear to be as hard