Evening star., 1935-06-01
ACUTE SHORTAGE
IN HOUSING SEEN
Vacancy Decrease and OBJ
saIeSence Combine in
National Outlook.

I'D plO disappearance OF vacancies Iii
residential structures, particularly in
single-family dwellings, is the most
significant present venture of the
rapidly changing real estate situation
the National Association OF Real
Estate Boards points out in summarize
ing local reports on factors affecting
the real estate market.
The residential occupancy figure for
Detroit is an outstanding instance OF
the change. This city, frequently cited
in the earlier depression years for its
heavy "overbuilding. now reports resi-
dental vacancies of all types, includ-
ing apartment units, as reduced to 2.6
per cent. This is the lowest vacancy
figure in the history of the city, and
with one exception probably the low
est vacancy figure recorded for major
American city since occupancy surveys
have come into use.
Related to the filling of available
living space. and to continued retarda-
ton of new construction. is the fact
that rents for single-family dwellings
are showing an abrupt rise. For
metropolitan centers of the country, as
reported to the association. they have
gone up more than 6 points in the
last three weeks and are now at ap-
proximately n per cent of their 1926
levels. The gain from April of this
year to late May has been almost as
great as the entire gain from April,
1884, to April. 1885.
Underbuilding Cited.
Study of the housing situation at
this moment reveals facts which hold
great national implications" Walter
S. Schmidt, Cincinnati, president of
the association, comments. Citing
compilations indicating that units
built in 1884 totaled only approx
mately 29,500. those built in 1888 ap-
proximately $4,000. those built in 1882
approximately 1851 900, he adds: Dur
ing this period, although no accurate
figures are available. destruction is
known to have been unusually heavy.
Obsolete buildings, left vacant. come
into such unrentable condition that
they we're torn down in great numbers
to save taxes. Fire and acts of God
took their toll. It is safe to say that
destruction exceeded replacement, so
that we now possess actually lesser
number of living units than existed
three years ago.
From now on. even assuming that
conditions do not improve, to fill the
needs of our Nation means that We
must multiply by II the construction
of these past two years. With bet
tered conditions, which would bring
a rush of deferred marriages and an
expansion of space-use, We may ex-
perience such an acute shortage as
this Nation has ever known"
Space absorption in the region re-
lated to New York is indicated in the
annual residential survey of the Scars
dale community. including the cities
of Yonkers and New Rochelle and
the towns of Scarsdale. Eastchester
and Greenburgh. This survey. made
by the Scarsdale Realty Board. Inc,
and published May 10, shows that
the territory has vacancy in houses
totaling 2.8 per cent, with some Of
the vacant houses uninhabitable
Vacancy in houses in the Scarsdale-
Yonkers New Rochelle area has been
dropping every year for five con-
secutive years, the annual survey
shows.
Low Ebb Of New Houses.
I'VE are undoubtedly at the low
ebb right now. as far as new houses
for sale CO." the report adds. New
houses for sale are so few that they
are included in this survey only to
give continuity to the record" They
totaled eight houses, confined to two
out of the five urban sections sur
veyed. Houses now under construc-
ton, however, totaled A.. of which
"a are being built for sale, % for
occupancy by owner.
Vacancy in single family houses in
Omaha now totals less than IA per
cent, according to the house-to- house
count made in April by the Omaha
Real Estate Board. The board has
made similar survey every April and
November since 1923. The present
vacancy figure is the lowest on record
for the entire 13 years covered in
these counts.
Out of the $4,000 residences checked
by the band of 26 realtors, who COW
ereo every mouse, 1t was found that
524 homes were vacant. OF these
329 were listed as of value less than
$4,000. OF these last IS per cent we're
not available for occupancy, either
because of their dilapidated condition
or because of litigation.
There are 1886 fewer houses in
Omaha today than there were in 1925.
the semi-annual survey shows. Houses
under construction totaled 80, scat
tered in a price range as follows: Less
tnan $1,000, two houses; from S2,500