Evening star., 1935-12-28
CAPITAL BECOMES
HOME-M|NDED
Realty Board Head Cites
Figures to Show
Growth.
BY F. ELIOT MIDDLETON.

President, Washington Real Estate Board.
With the close of 1885 the record Of
the National Capital the past year from
q real estate standpoint is highly sat-
isfactory. From every section Of the
metropolitan area come reports Of the
greatest activity In many years. Hun
dreds of new homes have been erected
within the District Of Columbia, Mont
Romery and Prince Georges Counties,
Nd, and Arlington and Fairfax Coun-
ties, Va, and in most instances have
found a ready market. The homes OF
today are being built to meet the de-
mands Of possibly the most discrimi-
mating class Of buyers Washington has
ever known. These houses are designed
TO give the ultimate in each price range
and the best possible type Of materials
and equipment.
In looking back and comparing the
homes Of Is or 20 years ago, one has
to appreciate the remarkable changes
which have been made. Not so many
years ago few houses were landscaped;
more than one bath was unusual; hot
air furnaces were not uncommon; elec-
trio refrigeration, gas or electric ranges,
and cabineted kitchens were practi-
cally unknown. Today even the mod
crate priced homes contain most Of
these features and the realtor- builder
is striving to make the new homes
artistic from an architectural view
point as well as equipped with labor
saving convenienceS.
The vast amount of favorable real
estate publicity emanating from Fed
eral and private sources during 1884
and 1885 has done much to make the
public real estate minded" This ef-
fort is justified in view Of the fine
showing made by real estate invest
ments in Washington metropolitan
area.
Another factor contributing to the
activity In real estate circles Is the
willingness Of practically every type
Of lending institution to finance the
construction and sale Of homes for re-
sponsible parties. The building and
loan associations, who have been the
pioneers in the long-term amortized
loan field, today are in open competi-
ton with life insurance and mortgage
financing bodies for sound loans. Dur
ing the past II " months 8,319 deeds Of
trust have been recorded on properties
within the District with an aggregate
value of 53,326,897. Not all of these
funds went into new construction, for
many properties have been refinanced
under the present highly favorable
rates to borrowers. National authori-
ties agree on the security of sound
real esate loans, and the wise investor
has come to realize that well-located
real estate rightly bought offers the
best type of security for his funds.
The development Of the National
Capital as the seat Of Government is
O guarantee as to the continued
growth of Washington. and private in
terests are also sold on this city. The
recent announcement Of plans for six
new theaters for Warner Bros. is evil
dence to that effect. The gift Of An
drew Mellon Of a national art gallery
further strengthens this city's position
as q center of art and culture. No
other American city has the many ad-
vantages which go to make Washington
the outstanding city in the Nation. Its
future development is safeguarded by
wisely planned coming which insures
the continuation of the plan conceived
by the founders Of the National Capt.
tai. All these factors contribute in
making Washington real estate in
vestments attractive as well as secure.