The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-09-25
PROPERTY MARKET
SURELY IMPROVES
Rental Applications Coming
in Rapidly.
WANT TO LIVE IN SUBURBS
Apartment DweIIers Prefer Homes
Near Center of the Cify--Agents
Selling Houses Have Them In
spected at Night-BuiIding Oper-
ations Stacker, Owing 10 Season.

The real estate market has shown signs
of betterment during the past week.
! Brokers who have rental lists have been
unusually busy. and the demand for
/ houses, apartments. and rooms is likely
within a few weeks to exceed the supply.
! broker who carries long rental list
! spoke yesterday of one OF the vagaries
Of the business which is giving some
trouble this year Many renters want
/ houses in the suburbs. where there are
few for rent. and are not willing. as a
rule, TO take the older downtown prop
/ erty, of which there is comparatively
plenty.
! On the other hand. in the renting OF
apartments everybody wants them near
| the car lines in the center OF the city.
and are unwilling to take the apart
/ ments in the suburbs and more remote
/ from the car lines. The apartments de-
sired are scarce, and those in the suburbs
are available. The broker thought the
/ families wanting homes would finally find
/ places suitable, but under the conditions
/ 1t is not as easy 10 satisfy those seeking
, houses I'D rooms as formerly.
Property Needs Improvement.
This broker also said it would be nee
| essary in the near future for owners 10
improve the unrented downtown property
with better plumbing, paint. and paper.
He said the newer houses in the suburbs.
bright and shining with modern ideas of
interior furnishings have spoiled the
renters, and they no longer want the
old-style houses built twenty years ago
and not improved since
1t was this brokers' opinion that II
many of the old houses had a few hun
dred dollars spent upon them in the way
Of new plumbing better heating faeli-
ties, painting, and the like. the property
could be much easier rented and would
bring better rates.
While the list of sales during the week
has not been large, business has gone
along fairly brisk Many of the new
houses that have been building, specially
in the suburbs. are coming into the mar
ket. and the efforts OF the real estate
men are devoted largely TO finding pur-
chasers for them.
Inspect Houses Mt Night.
\ new custom has grown I'D of late
which meets with satisfaction When
the new houses are ready for occupancy
they are brilliantly lighted al night, and
the prospective customer Is brought In
an automobile TO inspect the house. This |
method enables man and wife 10 make 1
the trip OF inspection together, and the 1
agent has time 10 go through the house 4
slowly and show it off to the best ad- 4
vantage. II is said that this method has !
resulted in closing several sales quickly /
and easily in the last few weeks.
Building operations show some signs Of |
owing to the advancing sea-
son. Not so much new work is under
taken, and the old jobs are being closed /
up one after another. 1t is predicted
that building operations may be a little
slack through the winter months. While
there is still a good demand for houses,
il Is not as pressing as was the case one
year and two years ago, and it is thought
that some builders viii wait to the open-
Ing of the spring months rather than
brave the uncertainties of the weather
conditions through the fall and winter.