Omaha daily bee., 1910-12-25
TIMELY REAL ESTATE GOSSIP
York Real Estate Exchange Calls for
q State Convention.
MSISrs ON WRITTEN CONTRACT
Indications Ave for More Lively Tive
ia Real Estate Circles ia Thts
Vieiaity AHer the first %
the Wear.

The York Eeal Estate exchange has
call out for state convention IN,
avowed purpose Of which is 10 work for
the repeal Of the law which insists on
written contract between owner and agent
Unless an agent has such contract he
cannot collect commission.
II the convention has other purpose it,
letter 20 the Omaha exchange does not set
n forth and tho Omaha exchange is natur-
ally somewhat uncertain whether other
MATTERS will be taken mp " they are to
ne considered Omaha Is much more likely
70 send delegates to York this week.
30 far as the commission law goes
division OF septinent exists in the Omaha
exchange but the majority appears 70 be
against repeal Of tho statute.
Apparently the Law is discrimination
against the real estate business for such
a written contract is uncalied for in all
other lines Of occupation. Property owners
sometimes take advantage Of this law TO
beat an agent out Of his commission.
This is the argumtnt Tor repeal and some
truth inheres IN II. But on the other
aide a good deal may he said. The law
also works for the advantage Of an agent
IN protecting him from litigation and Il
defends owners against interruptions
agents. this being desired by honest agents
not ia their capacity as agents. but as
good citizens
In states where no such law exists and
where the common law OF contracts and
Rgsncies applied, litigation is endless n.
p. Dodge jr.. brought out this fact most
foFcibly AZ the last exchange meeting and
converted 10 hts side many Of his auditors
Mr.. Dodge told ~ recent experience Of
his own in illustration Of how litigation
is engendered by the absence Of the written
contract law
F'1' was In another state than this said
Mr.. Dodge and had occasion to look at a
piece Of property I met one Of two
agents for the land and he declared the
Foek-bottom price was $1,000. II seemed
hish to me considering the location and the
fact that tho property was on low ground.
Nov happened, entirely by accident.
70 meet the other agent and ] spoke to
him about the property 4 admit It was
an unethioal thing to Do. but It was more
~ accident than design. He said tie
property had nearly been sold some time
before but tho deal fell through. The
owner was eager to realize on It and 1
could have It for I'll. 800 This was 5000
lower than the first agent had said !
bought IT,
New I asked the second agent II he
would split tho commission with me so
that could give my half 10 the first
agent. He looked at~me as n to say: You
must think am a greenhoru. but he
agreed.
II wrote the first agent a letter and
sent him his check for the half commits
sion. ] received in reply letter in which
be said he had been outrageously treated
and tho no would sue me for the balance
Of the commission. He will undoubtedly
sue
Now II goes without saying that he de-
serves not a, cont. he got as much as
the agent who sold the property and he
has no standing at law. but he Will put
me to tho trouble OF defending a lawsuit.
II tho written contract law we're in fore,
In this state no could do nothing"
Real estate men are looking forward 10
the Omaha Land Products exhibit with
more than ordinary interest. MAJ OF the
agencies deal'in farm land and Will them
selves have exhibits al the show. Others
are looking FOR Investments OF speculative
snaps and Will attend the show in force
Cor this sake
After the first OF ae year big revival
IN activity IS predicted BY practically
every experienced dealer IN the city. The
week before Christmas and the weeK after
are not good weeks Cor sel,ng raj estate
for people are too busy before and too poor
afterWard. Wien tile January ! bills arc
CLEARED UP things wiz begin to hump
But much more Important thm this Is
the fact that the, bGildinE and loan asso-
cations WIZ iayc their annual reports
made UP, tiRir books al cleared and will
be ready 20 loan money more freely The
building companies have been placing
moneYyon real estate IN considerable guam.
tty In recent months, but after the frs
OF the wear will let go more In this way
Retail trade IN merchandise has been sc
good this holiday season ana Omaha job-
bing and manufacturing interests are also
90 prosperous that the volume of none,
IN Omaha r. eSceptioHaiiv large, and tn.
Will be seeking new Investments during the
coming months. A large part OF the profit.
OF the retailers. the jobhers and the man
ufacturers wiz go into real estate, which
iF the place whore profits are really salteC
for permanent and secure investrnen'
Those who have Invested In Omaha realt,
at any time in the last ten years hayt
reHped a golden harvest Drndee lo;s. foi
instance, have grown wonderfully in value
But they are still moderate IN price and
since Dundee is sroNins faster than an!
part Of omaha's residential districts. {
win increase even caster in the near ~
ture but the same thing is true Of a
business section OF the city. No one vii
lose money By judioious purchases IN Ben
son, Florence. the Field club district o
any other part Of Omaha and It's environs
Just at present Rood bargains are NOR
than ordfnarflv pientiful ard a sraat an
portunity Is accordingly presented the In
weston