The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1925-08-17
REALTY MARKET
ACTIVE, SURVEY
INDICATES
index for June II Points
Higher Than Year Ago.
Fair Days" Ahead
By RICHARD HATTON

Considering the country as
whole and disregarding specifically
local conditions which may tempo.
rarily effect the market in certain
places, the National Association of
Real Estate Boards predicts fair
weather for the fall season. The
optimism of the National Associa-
ton publication is based upon "the
index for June which, il says.
stood at 164." This, despite the
natural summer decline" says an
article in the National Real Estate
Journal. sis only four points lower
than the figure for May, and Is
seventeen points higher than the
figure for June last year.
THE index constituting a bar
ometric reading for real estate con-
ditionS," says the Journal, is pre-
pared from reports received from
county recorders, real estate boards
and members of the American Title
Association in forty-one of the
largest cities of the country. The
index presents a comparison of the
activity of the real estate market
with the average activity over a
period of eight years. 1916-i923.
Taking the average number Of
instruments recorded in June OF
these eight years as 100, the num-
Der recorded in June, 1925, is repre-
scented by the index figure l64. In
other words, there were recorded
during the month of June 81 per
cent more instruments in these
forty-one cities than were recorded
IL. the average June. 1916-192S
Slight Decline From May
The Journal finds that the index
has declined four points from 16S
in May. but says that 1T is now
seventeen points higher than it was
in June, 1924. There were recorded
In these forty-one cities" says the
Journal, 1863 716 instruments dur
ing the first six months of 1925.
During the same period in 1924
there were S69.193 instruments re-
corded. The increase in this year
has been 523 instruments. .
The Journal prints compre-
hensive chart indicating the range
of activity in the real estate market
from 1916 to 1925 and states that
"tI1is index of the real estate
market follows very closely the
index Of building construction.
Real ASsRfe activity, says the
Journal, sis usually followed or ac-
companied by building activity.
Both the total number Of instru
ments recorded and the total
amount OF new construction for the
first six months OF 1925 exceed
those for 1924"
1924 Was Very Good Year
As 1924. was considered an excel
~a1f e.
and the building field, according to
the Journal, that publication con-
aiders that the increase in new con-
struction and the number Of in
struments recorded IN 1926 are very
striking facts.
The article continues:
Indications point almost uni.
formly to an excellent fall season
for real estate dealers. There are
many reasons for believing that the
autumn months will see large
volume OF new construction and
general business conditions are APP
parently on the upgrade.
The real estate business natu-
rally depends much upon the gen.
eral prosperity of the community.
In dull seasons real estate moves
slowly, while general business
activity usually is reflected in an
active real estate market.
Some of the indications which
point to good general business for
the rest Of the year may be cited
as the basis for an optimistic out
look. The first Of these is the
fact that credit is both abundant
and cheap; the bond market is very
active and money is available for
legitimate enterprises in as great
or greater, quantities than are be-
ing demanded and interest rates
are low.
Farmer Better Off
The farmer is in a better posi-.
ton financially than he has been
for many seasons. While crops are
poor in many sections. on the whole
. large crop will probably be har-
vested for a market whcih will
readily absorb it at prices that will
yield farmers a satisfactory return
on their seasons labor.
Particularly hopeful are the
The optimistic outlook Of the farmer
affects the whole BUSINESS struc-
ture.
With no political uncertainty on
the horizon, with high wages
throughout the industrial structure,
with large crops at comparatively
high prices, and with abundant
credit resources available, business
in general should continue prosper.
Gus throughout the year and real
estate transactions should continue
in large volume"
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES