The Waterbury Democrat., 1932-01-09
Sears, Roebuck Co.
 On Building Outlook
Hon,e Construction Division Executives Report lni- proved Condition as Result Of Depression al Recent Sales Meeting

large measure as a result Of this trend. ,,, and committees and individuals or the President Conference on Home Building and Home Ownership or the necessity of 75 per cent single fiancing arrangement, amortlzed over a period of fifteen years. was discussed as the most hopeful de- yelopment of recent years from the viewpoint of home ownership. It was pointed out that the Sears organization over period of sev- eral years has demonstrated the practicability of this form of f- nancing, corrleated with other pro- cesses-naterials sales at quantity purchase prices, complete construc- ton service, and proper architec- tural cooperation.
 we are grateful for this de. development as something that VIII spur other organizations on to do what We have done," Harvey I. Harris, general manager or the Home Construction division, deciar- ed" We welcome the competition because 1t will improve. the owner builder psychology. Perhaps no single improvement in home build ing processes would accomplish more in behalf of small house building in this country. Up to the present, our plan has not been duplicated in organized fashion, It's basic virtues, however, can be a. dapted by others.
 "When we stop to consider that on the basis of the 1925 one and two family residential construction volume, the country IS now 1,260,- 900 behind in home units, 1t must be realized that the depression of the past two years Is not alone re- spinsible for the falling off in con- struction of tenant owned homes. Undoubtedly difficulties in financ- ing have had much to do with this"
 Improved understanding on the part of architects of financing op- portunities available for their clients has been another helpful sign of the Sears Roebuck activi- ties, according to David s. Betcone. supervisor of architectural service.
 ''The small house architect. even ,, in god times, has been greatly re- financing for his clients. He Is bound to be greatly benefited by ana liberalizing of financing and construction arrangements for i small homes. The result Is bound to be a distinct trend away from | the sterotyped standardized, pill 1 box" type of home design and a great improvement of the archi- l lecture of the country.
 1 Ut Is interesting to note that 1 upwards of thirty per cent Of
 homes built by Sears last year were | from designs of outside architects" l "Realtor cooperation with fi- I nancing, planning and construction facilities has been appreciably quickened by the depression" j..
 J. McHugh, western general mana ger of home construction, declared.
 "Real estate Is bound to move more rapidly when the realtor can
 assure his customer that planning, financing and what we call a key in lock- construction job, is avail
 able with a 15-year 75' per cent single mortgage"
 Expectations of continued in-
 crease in this territory were re-
 sponsible for the removal of east ern headquarters of Sears home
 construction forces from Philadel-
 phia to the New York area at
 Port of Newark the first of this
 year, according to E. R. Dibbs,
 eastern general manager. This
 move, Mir Dibbs pointed out was accompanied by a considerable re-
 districting, with new southeast
 sales offices at Washington. New England offices at Boston and Up
 state New York at Albany. The biz
 4O- acre, tidewater plant at Por Newark, commenced in 1925, has just been completed with the addl' ton of executive offices at 8 tota cost of S3,s0O,O00, It was announc
 ed, Intensive organization for mo dernization activities this year, hal
 been completed in the east ant will function under the Port New ark headquarters. Mir Dibbs said.