San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-01-28
Dealers Report D m an d
Good and Early Season
Opening Up FavorabIy.
LOTS SELLING WELL
Several New Additions to Go
on Market Soon for
Homebuilders.

fOllOWIng somewhat OF eUIlp IN
real estate during the holiday sea-
son, San Antonio real estate men re-
port a general revival in realty, both
improved and unimproved, while those
dealing exclusively in farm and ranch
properties say business is picking up
materially, due to the absence OF win
ter weather. ~
While farmers are not planting, in
sections where it has rained enough TO
make blowing feasible, teams are in the
fields and an early start is indicated
unless the cold weather comes late IN
spring, which is not regarded as prob
able.
In city real estate one Of the big
gest years ON record is anticipated by
those in close touch with the situa-
ton. Several we'll known individuals
and firms are planning TO put on sub.
divisions early in the spring. One OF
these will adjoin Highland Park be-
ing south of the boulevard. There are
at least three on the north side where
several new additions were opened III
1922 also.
Several large suburban properties are
being opened, and taken as whole,
there will be more of this kind of de-
velopment than the city has known IN
Qecuue unless all siSllS ldils
Prices Are Reasonable.
Real estate in San Antonio and in
| the suburbs. particularly vacant build
| ing sites are cheaper here than any
where in America, realty men declare.
That this situation will continue is pre-
dicted because San Antonio is rapidly
| building up and the more improve
ments and population the city acquires,
the higher values will go.
One of the features of this develop
ment is rapid turnover of small home
sites, more than 1900 new homes being
| built in 1922 and prospects good for
| that number in 1923. Within the last
| few weeks. there has been a revival OF
building activities particularly in four
and five-room dwellings in all parts OF
the city in addition TO the usual number
| of finer and more expensive homes
which are always under construction
in the more exclusive residential dis
| tricts.
| No city anywhere in the South pos
sesses the wide variety Of hOmesites that
San Antonio offers. From the suburban
domestic to the country place ten miles
out, situated among the hills and live
oaks, to the close-in residence lot,
home builder can have almost any sort
prepared TO pay.
Cheaper to Build Now.
| Moreover, home builders have REDUCED
the cost of dwelling construction ma
| terially in recent months. 1t is prob
able that the average dwelling can be
| constructed in San Antonio cheaper and
better than in any other city in Texas,
contractors say. Labor charges here
are cheaper than in other Texas cities,
building materials are no higher and in
some cases cheaper, while the financial
arrangements that can be made should
permit even the most humble wage earn
er to own some sort of home.
| Another feature that is stimulating
building here is the introduction OF
many attractive cottage and bungalow
designs by local architects and home
building concerns. Some of the new
homes put up on the monthly payment
plan are models of convenience and ele1
gance not heretofore available to the
man of average income, but which can
now be purchased on exceptionally easy
terms.
Lots Are Priced Low.
1t is on building lots, however, that
the real estate men expect the biggest
turnover during February and March,
There is an incesSant demand for buildf
ing lots that are well located, have such
improvements as good streets, sidewalks,
curbing, gas, sewers, etc, available,
When priced right, real estate men saw
it is little trouble to sell such lots fol
the owners on short notice. For the
most part, builders demand lots in par
cells or acreage that can be cut into
50-foot building sites. But individual.
buyers seeking homesites are more nuI
merous now than for many months ant
they are either paying cash or making
, substantial down payments real estate
men report.
MANY people have gained the i'm.
preston that San Antonio is beinf
'over-built' and that slump will re
t suit" said one man in touch with tbA
situation. Probably there will be sopls
classes of less desirable houses vac;Fnl
when all Of these new homes are com
; pleted. However, that will not be al
unmixed evil. as it will compel holder
of such real estate who. as class
have been getting very good rentals. Y
improve their properties in keeping witt
the better class of rental propertie4
At all events. building is destined u
: continue at this pace as long as ever
e house is bought and occupied almost a
soon as il is completed as is the cast
now. People are buying these homes q
, soon rs they are erected and that NJ
E the test of construction possibilities II
] San Antonio"
= Lumber companies which finance tn
majority of the home building here. ra
mort n steady demand for building loan
t The building and loan associations alS
l .S..N haNgf