Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-08-31
ON REALTY ROW
Reports and Observations
Concerning Business and
d. c. Agents.
Fryhofer Tells of Florida.

Some interesting comments on con-
ditions prevailing in Florida during the
late and lamented boom in that State
are given by George Fryhofer OF the
Bradley Hills Syndicate in an article
in the United States Banker. Mr.. Fry
hofer qualities. as an expert witness on
booms by recounting that he has ex-
perienced four different booms in sub.
urban developments in Long Island and
two in Florida, not to mention others
In different parts Of the country.
That Famous Sand Lot.
Speaking of the latest deflation, Mr..
Fryhofer writes:
binary sand lot listed with me during
the height of the activity at the price of
100000. A few years previously / had
or eight hundred dollars. When I asked
the owner why he had put that price
on his lot, he replied that the party
owning the adjoining lot had little
higher price on his property. At least,
so he was told by the agent.
II often told an owner like that that
he was up to the depot that morning
and saw a box car with number
80. 900 on it and that was the only basis
could see for the value that he placed
on his lot.
Advice Not Wanted.
"But such advice, OF course, was re-
sented and had to be given out very
sparingly. There is no one so unpop-
ular, when the boom Is on, as the man
who says. I cannot see these values
IT think the insanity of the situation
is brought on by the great flock of
people who become active in buying
real estate and selling when a move
ment is started. Plumbers, BARRIERS
stenographers and bookkeepers become
real estate agents. They have never
had the slightest experience in real
estate before. The situation is so hec-
tic. and. with strangers coming In. they
at once are considered judges of value.
express themselves freely and authori-
tatively. They begin qlloting high prices
and shove values up. The buyers get
the fever and the boom is on"
Training Held Important.
At the recent annual convention of
the National Association of Real Es-
tate Boards in Boston the thought was
stressed that due to the complicated
and vital nature of real estate BUSH
ness there is of necessity a definite
moral responsibility on the real estate
broker or agent that he be we'll trained
and we'll posted on conditions before
accepting commissions. Not only that.
but stress was laid on the fact that real
estate business itself is divided into a
number Of highly specialized fields, all
requiring special technical training.
License Laws are Adopted.
To safeguard the public and the good
name of real estate business generally
the national association is sponsoring
enactment In each Jurisdiction of real
estate license law, placing definite re-
quirements on real estate brokers and
statesmen. which must be met before
they are allowed to operate. Twenty-Five
States now have similar laws. A num-
Der have been revised at the request of
realtors to ma Ike educational require
ments more stringent.
The Washington Real Estate Board
has asked that Congress adopt a license
law for the District. fashioned after the
national model code.
A*
Realtor Election Coming.
With Fall fast approaching. local
realtors already are planning for the
Winter season of activities of the local
real estate board. The first big event
will be the annual meeting. set for
October IA, when officers of the board
will be elected for the coming year.
McKeever and Brown on Trip.
r. L. McKeever, president of Nc
Keever q Gross. Inc, and William j.
Brown. president of the Black d White
and Yellow Cab Companies left this
week for a motor tour through New
England and Canada.
Seaford Visits Gotham.
H. Wade Seaford, of the real estate
firm of Seaford &, Seaford, spent the
past week in New York City and will
return after Labor day.
X X
James Addresses Convention.