Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-03-13
COMING SEASON PROSPECTS
IN REAL ESTATE BUSINESS
Wide Range of Opinion as to the Extent o.
Priced Houses---Suburban Realty

One is liza BILE to hear quite wide range
of opinions when the prospects for the
coming season in the real estate business
are under discussion. There are those
who speak with much confidence about
the building that is going to be done when
the weather becomes. more settled. While
there are others who re inclined TO be
somewhat pessimistic and declare that the
amount of work to be done in that par
ticular will show perhaps falling off as
compared with last season.
There is, of course, middle ground On
this as on all questions. and those occupy
ing the latter position believe that there
will be activity of a moderate degree, for
the reason that the demand for houses
is such as to make 1T necessary for some
new ones to be erected in order to keep
the supply up to that level. The ten
dency, of course. will be to keep some
what ahead of such level and In that
event the tide of building VIII be natural
~ much larger.
The Seasons Outlook.
During the winter months there has been
quite a good deal done, the open weather
not interfering with outside work, so that
if builders had many contracts on hand
more has been accomplished than IS
usua, at that season of the year. Or
course, the slow progress Of recovery
from the financial panic which marks the
business in general of the country exerts
an influence in this city as well as else
where, and the volume Of activities OF all
sorts has been smaller than would other
wise have been the case.
II is expected the general recovery Will
continue throughout the country during
the coming months and the course or az
fairs in this city will feel such change.
.1t l.NyI- tn q a
there will be the natural activity grow
ing out of what might be called the local
demand which Is nothing more or less
than providing the facilities called for by
growing population.
Need for Small Houses.
1t is probable that people will continue
10 come TO Washington TO reside and in
that event they will want houses IL live
in and in supplying such demand the
market for ground and for houses will
continue active. Besides that, there is
never time when there are enough
houses of moderate cost and that can
he had also at a moderate rental. Phe
void in the market of small houses seems
10 be perpetual one.
This is not due TO the fact that ii IS
not known, for all men who are engaged
in the business Of building houses fully
realize there is practically no limit 10 the
demand for houses renting for about Slo
edge they cannot build such houses with
any prospect of making any money. For
the most part they attribute THIS 10 the
high price of the land. and they also
claim that when they go out from the
center to where cheaper land can be
secured then the people who are able to
live in only such houses refuse to follow
them they want their homes 10 be
= within easy reach of the main points OIL
the city.
Municipal Undertaking.
The problem of the proper housing OF
this class of the population, when studied
In its practical phases, leads men TO the
conclusion that the only way is for the
public 10 supply the funds by which
houses can be built and upon which only
a small return on me money can be ex-
pected. the latter no: being large enough
10 compete with current income producing
opportunities. In other words, the small
house or the small rent in the city prop
or is recognized as 4 municipal undertake
lag.
Such. in general. is the conclusion
reached by the housing commission APP
pointed by the last administration and
which studied the situation in this city.
Regarding the supply of houses renting
At a small cost. tne situation In this cit y
does not differ from that in most other
cities of this country, fer the reason
that the demand for a central locality on
lease houses of this character is directly
opposed to the requirements of such prop
erty for suitable return based upon cur
rent values.
Building in the Suburbs.
II Is too early in the year to expect &c
find much interest on the part of the
public in suburban real estate. Still
there is something being done will
property of that class even at this sea
son before the grass grows and the leave.
come out. 1t is supposed that the verna
influences which are deemed to affect the
blood Of the average person each year ha,
something to do with the attention which
appears TO be directed toward the out
lying sections of the city as soon as tn,
winter begins to go.
Whatever tie reasons, and they are MOI
altogether seasonal, there Is going TO BIZ
n number of new houses erected in diff
ferent portions of the suburbs during the
coming season. In such localities the spec.
ulative builder has not as yet made his
appearance, at least not to any extent
1t is in such places that one sees tn,
methods followed that were formerly thu
only ones in use in the city proper, anC