Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-12-28
SURVEYS BUILDING
CONDITIONS IN i. S.
Realty Board Reports Bust
ness and Home Construc-
ton Meeting Demands.

The family home and business prom
erty have at present a healthy ratio of
supply to demand throughout the coun-
try, according to the semi-annual sur
vey OF the real estate market made by
the National Association of Real Estate
Boards from reports filed by All local
boards.
This conclusion may run somewhat
counter to general existing impression
that the country is overbuilt-and
demonstrates that the only reliable basis
Tor knowing the real estate market con-
oltlons OF any given city lies In data
collected through careful inventory of
that city, the association states.
Single Family Dwellings.
In single family dwellings 81 per cent
OF the All cities supplying data for the
survey showed normal ratio of supply
ana demand 19 per cent reported over
building In family homes and 19 per
cent reported shortage in this type of
property. Business properties showed
normalcy as to supply and demand in
6S per cent of the cities, a shortage of
10 per cent and overbuilding of % per
cent.
The supply and demand ratio for
apartments was normal In SIS per cent
OF the cities, but there was a shortage
OF the cities and an over-supply in only
10 per cent. OF the All cities reporting,
81 per cent showed rentals on single
unit dwelling the same as a year ago,
while 80 per cent reported lower rentals
on this type OF property and only II
per cent reported higher rentals than a
year ago. Rentals for two-family dwell
lings showed practically the same sta
bility. In Sc per cent of the cities the
rentals of this type of residential prop
erty we're the same as in 1928, IA per
cent reported an increase and 80 per
cent reported lower rentals on the two
family units.
Apartment rentals showed an even
smaller divergence from the 1928 fig
ureS. Apartments are renting at the
same price this year as last year in 81
per cent Of the cities included in the
survey, have raised their rentals in 10
per cent of the cities and lowered them
in Is per cent.
Once Rental Conditions.
Office rentals in centrally located Of
nee buildings were reported the same as
year ago in 70 per cent of the cities,
while 10 per cent reported higher rent
ais and IL per cent lower. A majority
of the cities reported rents of central
business property to be the same as
creases in the rentals of this type OF
porperty in 80 per cent of the cities and
decreases in IL per cent. Rentals in
outlying Office buildings were reported
the same in "A per cent Of the cities,
higher in per cent and lower in ~
per cent. Outlying business properties
had the same rentals as in 1928 in 81
per cent of the cities, had increased in
ii per cent and dropped in 28 per cent
Regarding the supply Of money avail
able for real estate mortgage loans, %
per cent Of the cities reported an equili-
brium between supply and demand, 19
per cent reported q surplus of capital
seeking investment in real estate mort
| gage loans and SO per cent of the cities
reporting stated that real estate loans
were seeking capital. The survey COW
erS q period when capital has been felt
by all industries and all types of bust
ness to have been abnormally diverted
to stock market investment, a condition
which Is not now q factor of the bust.
ness situation, and shows in 80 per cent
of the cities rising interest rates or
mortgages.
During the past year interest rate:
had become lower in only 5 per cent o.
the cities, SO per cent Of the cities re-
ported the same interest rates as ir
1928. However, the association points
out, during 1880. with the wave Of
speculation over, 1t is only reasonable tx
look forward to lower interest rates or
mortgages, and to a ready supply o.
capital for well considered building
projects.