Evening star., 1936-05-09
REALTORS REPORT
LESS DOUBLING Up
National Association Holds
Rent Records Reflect De.
mand for Space.

in many cities over the country ane
the practice has passed its peak II
other communities, according to re-
ports on the country's most genera
moving day made to the National AS
sociation of Real Estate Boards by
member real estate boards in repre-
sentative large cities over the Nation
Families changing their quarters
at this time are not moving to gel
cheaper quarters, 10 out of 20 cities
report. On the contrary, in Is OF
the 20 cities reporting some proper
ton at least of current moving ha;
been to seek more comfortable quar-
ters.
In almost half the cities report.
ing there was estimated to be less
change in tenancy than was the case
last year.
Rents Reflect Demand.
Rents, rejecting the greater de-
mand for space, are moderately higher
than last year for May l leases ir
practically every city reporting. The
increases run from $250 and SIS a
month up, or from S per cent to 10
per cent, sometimes more, the higher
increases, apparently for the most
part in cities which by reason of Sec
tional or local conditions. as bank
ing or industrial or financial factors,
had been retarded in their recovery
movement and are now coming into
greater activity.
1t is notable that the country S
undoubling appears to be going on
without abrupt rent rise. Meanwhile,
new building, including new apart
ment building, has begun.
The cities, cross section of the
larger urban contours of the country
which as a group. have been on the
whole somewhat in advance of the
general urban movement In real estate
recovery, give varying reports as to
the degree to which families going
back to homes Of their own are fac
tor in current residential leasing,
Brooklyn reports, as many cities would,
that the "undoubling" movement has
been going on for years.
Changes in Newark.
Newark, through David Cronheim,
chairman of the Newark Real Estate
Boards apartment group in its man
agement division, says: We know a
great number of families previously
doubled are now taking separate
quarters. Realtors office records and
observations would indicate a condi-
ton almost normal" Baltimore re-
ports a small percentage of "un-
doubling" Detroit none. Camden,
through c. Armel Nutter, president of
the Camden Real Estate Board, re-
ports large number of "undoubling"
at this time, with possibly 25 per cent
OF the May l moving coming from this
source. New Orleans makes a SINH
lar estimate. In Pittsburgh "undoub.
ling" is estimated as a considerable
factor Dayton reports very general
"undoublmg. Louisville says only a
ANAL percentage of current moving is
from this cause. Kansas City saws
"undoubling" is going on rather rap
Idly. but new doubled" families offset
the trend TO some extent. Seattle
through William A. Eastman, presi-
dent OF the Seattle Real Estate Board.
reports considerable progress though
we have not had a great deal of this
sort Of living for the past year or So"
Portland, Oreg., reports a very great
proportion Of present-day moving as
due to unscrambling of families. The
Oranges and Maplewoods, through
Herman K. Weis, real estate board
president, estimates about a third of
those families still doubled are sepa-
rating at this time Dallas reports
the peak Of "undoubling" there was
reached In 1885. San Antonio says it
now has about $50 fewer families liv-
ing as extra" families than was the
case q year ago.
Single Houses in Demand.
The vacancy percentage in single
family houses, as is well known, in
the larger cities has become very
small. Boston. Brooklyn, Newark and
Long Island report only a negligible
number of detached dwellings vacant.
Detroit, st. Louis and Long Beach,
Calf, report the vacancy of this tvpe
Is less than per cent. Milwaukee and
Dallas estimate it at l per cent. Bal
timore estimates vacancy III single
family houses in the city at 4 per cent,
The Oranges and Maplewood at is
per cent, Pittsburgh at between 5 and
z per cent In quarters that are de-
sirable, Dayton at per cent, Kansas
City at 5 per cent, Tulsa at per cent
(whereas apartment vacancies there
are estimated at IS per cent?, and
Pasadena at IT per cent. Miami
states the vacancy in both apartments
and houses Is the lowest it has ever
been at this time of year.
Existing supply of apartment space
has not filled up as rapidly as has
that Of single-family dwellings (Which
last, for the most part, are owner
occupied). Vacancies in apartments
run from less than l per cent in the
case Of a single city CDetroit) to IS
per cent in the cities currently report
Ing. Percentages cited (most of them
estimatedD are: Boston, 7 per cent:
Baltimore, per cent; Brooklyn, z or 8
per cent; Long Island, Z per cent:
2 per cent; the Oranges and
4 per cent; Dayton, 4 per
cent; Milwaukee, / 4 per cent; Kansas
City Gas of january, ia per cent;
Seattle, 5 per cent; Dallas, S per cent;
St. Louis, per cent; Tulsa, Is per
cent; Long Beach, IT per cent stam-
ford, Conn, per cent for one group
of apartments taken as a sample.