Evening star., 1934-12-08
FIJI. A. RECOGNIZES
LAND USE VALUE
Mortgage Rating Standards
Embody Many Realty
Suggestions.

Standards announced this week by
the Federal Housing Administration
for rating residential properties for
mortgage insurance embody many of
the principles of land use, design and
the like, for which the National As
sociation Of Real Estate Boards has
for years contended. General recog-
milton Of these principles is bound to
mean q real advance not only in
housing standards themselves, but in
understanding Of what constitutes
sound home project, the association
pointed out.
r. H. A. recognizes use value Of
dwelling as the basis for rating the
mortgage upon 1t. 1t also recognizes
that in determining the stability of
the value back of the mortgage the
neighborhood may be a more i'm
portant factor than flaws or virtues
in the construction of the individual
house.
The new property standards"
strongly encourage the trend to lower
ratios Of lot coverage, and point the
advantage Of eliminating unnecessary
street areas to cut out unnecessary
home costs. They call for planning
Of projects In relation to expected
population trends. They are built on
the fact that a residential structure.
II its value is to hold up for possible
resale, must be, in point of cost, type,
design and the like, not very far either
above or below the general standards
Of its neighborhood. They declare
properties ineligible for mortgage in
surance If, through lack Of proper
protective measures, there exists a
major hazard that their neighborhood
will lose its quality as residential
neighborhood through the coming in
Of adverse uses.
Valuable Check List.
Tho new statement of standards
constitutes q valuable check list of
desirable minimums for:
/. The family about to buy or build
q home.
2. The mortgage lender, whether or
not he intends to apply for mortgage
insurance.
3. The operative builder, whose out
put must reach acceptance by both
buyer and mortgage lender.
The standards set up by F. H. A.
apply only to one-to four-family
dwellings. property may be used in
part for other than dwelling purposes.)
The same standards will be applied
to existing buildings as to new build
1ngs.
Absolute requirements are. notably:
/. Lot coverage for single family
detached houses, including all acceS-
sorry buildings, in no case shall exceed
80 per cent for an interior lot, or 40
per cent for q cornor lot exclusive
Of any area given to streets, alleys or
easements). Desirable maximum COW
erage is placed at approximately 20
per cent of the lot. For attached
row houses and "a family dwell
ings, the same coverages are accept
able standards, but they may be ex-
ceeded II adequate light and air are
given all inhabited rooms.
2. Minimum number Of rooms per
family unit: Three rooms plus bath
room.
One at least 100 square feet, one at
least 100 square feet. others at least
10 square feet, except kitchen. which
must be at least so square feet Qf
separate room).
4. Windows: (a) For each room,
not less than 1 square foot Of glass
area for each 10 square feet of floor
area. (b) At least As per cent of the
glass area must be openable for ven
tilation.
S. Supply Of pure water, adequate in
volume and pressure. from an ap-
proved community source drilled well
may be acceptable).
s. Water supply to the kitchen over
. sink, with waste outlet.
7. Connection with approved public
sewage system or. where this is not
available, other proper disposal for
waste outlet.
8. At least one water closet per
family unit. with supply of water
adequate in volume and pressure for
flushing, and drained to an approved
public sewage system. (Where this not
available, to approved septic tank or
cesspool)
9. Heating system adequate in rela-
ton to character Of dwelling and
climate"
10. Concrete or masonry foundation
for all exterior walls, extended to firm
bearing surfaces beneath the gen.
orally accepted frost line for the
locality.
Where Leeway Is Given.
Important places where leeway is
given:
Pavements which add cost out of
relation to the need Of the neighbor-
hood will be looked on with disfavor
(but property reached only by an un-
surfaced way is ineligible).
Central heating system is not re-
quired, but generally recommended.
Bath room may be spaced for either
tub or shower, but need not be
equipped.
Electric wiring and apparatus is
not required Except as required to
meet standards Of neighborhod).
Gas or electric system for cooking