The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-07-27
LOCAL REAL ESTATE MARKET CONTINUES. ACTIVE, SAYS REPORT.
Many Medium-Sized Houses Have Been Sold During Week-No Improvement
 in Housing Conditions

The past week in the real estate market in Birmingham has not been marked with any number of big sales. but it is estimated by some real es- tate dealers that 1t has been one of the best with regard to the sale of moderate sized homes and residences which they say after all is the acid test for any real estate market
 Every real estate dealer in the city reports 8 good week with regard to the sale of residential property, but state that the rental conditions are but very slightly relieved, if any.
 In spite of the fact that the lumber market is threatened with a serious shortage, the people of this city are building more houses every day. Both retail and wholesale lumberman of the city state that they will protect the interests of this city above that of any other, although it is said they have been offered prices for their entire stocks at an average of s per thou sand above Birmingham retail prices for every stick of timebr in their pos session, s,
 l. c. Beatty of tho B1rmingh Realty company states that a number of people. owing to the serious hous- ing conditions, are camping in tents on land adjoining that of his company in Norwood They report that 1t is 8 model life. very healthy, but more or less inconvenient
 MT. Beatty also stated that they are hard at work on the construction of the 100 homes sthat they have planned to be in readiness for occupation by October 1, keeping at least 40 or 50 n ff oII As fast as they are finished, he says, they are occupied by the owners.
 Among many others who are build ing homes at the present time is the Milner Land company, which is inn proving Milner Heights MT. H. K. Milner stated that as fast as they build the houses they are occupied by peo- pie who have bought them. They have about seven or eight in the course of construction at the present time.
 s. Bethea of the Bethea Real Estate and Insurance company states that anyone who is not satisfied with the present real estate market and has any kick to make in that regard is simply too lazy to get out and work. He says that theNpresent market is better than he has seen in years.
 It is. said that possibly one of the most important movements on foot among tho real estate dealers and . puSlHeSS CluDS or the ClLy IS that Which is trying to get the people of Birmins- ham who have more room in their houses than they are absolutely in need of to divide their homes into two apartments with all the plumbing ne- cessities for two families This, it is claimed, would readily take care of 1900 or more families. if all the people in the city who are situated in this manner would follow this suggestion.
 One real estate dealer stated that it was not so much the fact that there was a scarcity of material in Birming ham which was possible, regarding the progress of building in this city, as the scarcity of skilled labor. He claimed that the majority of skilled labor was migrating to the north and west, where they could obtain better wages than here Of the other variety, un- skilled labor, he said that this city had a sufficiency.
 The Reid-Ford Land company, A. c. Montgomery. Kendrick- Housea1 Real Estate and Insurance company, Gar rett-Butler Real Estate and Insurance company, Mosely. Henderson & Davis Realty company, Jemison Real Estate and Insurance company and several others reported a very good weeks work in the sale of small homes, aver aging about $15.000 to $25.o 900 each.