San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-01-21
Sunday, January Fl Is Gown
Your Own Home
Day."
HELPS ONE TO. SAVE.
Construction in 1923 Ex-
pected to Break All
Prior Records.

sunday, January Il, mas Deen pro-
claimed Own Your Home Day." which
is one of the links in the chain of
suggestions for thrift during national
thrift week, which began January IL.
The strength of the nation is expressed
in its homes, the glory of civilization
is founded there and the stability ots
the government greatly depends upon
home ownership, declares a well-known
San Antonio home builder.
Real estate dealers, building and
loan associations, and building supply
merchants are helping in the observance
of "Own Your Home Day." Home
ownership helps one to save, they say,
it is a good investment, gives you
better standing in the community, in
creases your interest in your COM
munity and nation, increases your self
respect, improves your credit, makes
your family happier, improves your
home life, gives you greater interest in
your home, relieves you from the coke
Of the rent profiteer and the family
is not making the most of its privilege
of living in San Antonio if it does not
own its own home.
Millions for Homes.
More than S5,OO0O00,O have been
spent for home building in the United
States during 1922, reports show. Al
though home building underwent
something of a decline during the war.
and for a period of time afterward it
is now popular in the United States
Judging by figures which have been COM
piled by the United States, Census
Bureau at Washington. ThisaEs most
encouraging sign of stabilityrfor the
nation, for it need have no w5rry for
the future. Construction work has
progressed wonderfully during 1922, but
from all indications the development will
be exceeded in 1923.
There was total of II, 100000 homes
in the United States in 1922, accord
ing to the United States Census Blu
reau. OF this number 7,105,O00, or
400 per cent, were owned by their
occupants and of these 3,S55,000, or
39.7 per cent were mortgaged. The
total amount of these mortgages is es-
timated by the bureau TO be S6.OOO,-
100000, while the total value Of the
homes is placed at S14,099,000,0 The
ratio of the indebtedness to the value
is 32.6 per cent.
Demand Is Growing.
One of the reasons that not much
profit was made in retailing supplies
last year was that the volume of BUSH
ness was too small, local real estate
man says. Supply men cannot increase
| this volume by further reductions in
prices as they are now operating on a
| close basis, he says. But the demand
| for houses all over the country is grow
| ing rapidly, and almost assumes the
conditions of boom. Ten per cent
of the country's population is now liv-
ing in doubled up quarters, the new
| ly married couples living with their
parents, and others doing light house
| keeping, all of whom will build as soon
as the employment situation improves.
| All these facts point to a big demand
| for houses in the near future.
According to a recent issue of the
American Building Association News
no family can ever acquire that deep
seated regard and heartfelt affection
| for n rented house that is naturally
| developed toward a home which they
| own. But when the place is their
own, when no one has the right to
raise the rent or order them out, then
| every mcmDer OF the family becomes III
spired with love for the place; they
become interested in adornment; every
tree and flower and shrub which they
add to its surroundings. every new
day they live there, adds to the tender,
loving associations entwined about il,
until home becomes one of the sweet.
est words in the human speech.
The Ideal Home.
The ideal home is n castle Of gen.
uine love. the American Building As
ISOLATION News says. and is the tower OF
enthroncd friendship. the cathedral OF
every pure joy, the city of every sacred
relationship, the round-table of social
communion for all the highest forms
Of human intercourse and intellectual
exchange. The good things that are
in this world were not put here to to,
talize man, but for him to possess,
when he does his part.
BY doing constructive thinking enough
and working hard enough one can at
tain that high ideal of the ownership
of ones own home.