Evening star., 1937-08-14
BUILDING COSTS
STILL BELOW '29
Trade Magazine Challenges
impression Gained From
Few Increases.

"A distorted idea OF the cost OF
homes and home equipment hss re-
suited from publicity given the rise
ot = few building materials declares
rhs Americs Builder in an editorts
" its current issue. The magazine
nr1es . campaign by builders to get
the whole story" before the public.
Much Of the clamor about costs is
nksir to both builders and manufac-
murers, the editorial declares. All
building products have not advanced
alike, and the average home on sale
today sctually costs much less than
those on sale in either 1929 Or 1925.
American Builder repeats its previ-
ses declarations that now is unques-
tionably the right time for prospec-
a~e home seekers to buy or build
.8ors bolae 70, 10. mooev II being
osNred 'oda. .o,o IN 1925 o. 1929
~onA p'sr'ns 800, o. 'n'ng rosy" hs"e
nol"nn'.ss.o - 'n0u,'rS~ nsvs s-n',st
~o~ onoo.gv o.ls:. o'r, ~ o''c.'
sos~a--ns.
"eonlls ITAia" Ur:ea.
stating that c,.r-ept economic poll
.ts based On tneoll's OF sc1Iel1y aoo
aolation maze an Irresistible trend 70
higher prices Of all commodities, the
editors OF American Builder urge every
builder, building firm and related Or
gsnization to lose no time in carry
ina the message of present home values
10 rhe home-seeking and property
owning public.
Building men can turn the tide
Of price thinking by challenging all
misleading propaganda and by m
forming the public OF the whole story
snd the facts" it declares.
Due to better design and more
-fAclency on the job, the total prod
,lcl-the completed homes deliv-
cred at a lower cost today than In
1929" the editorial declares.
Especially in regard to items OF
house equipment, like refrigerators,
oil burners, coal stokers and air con-
ditioners, are present costs much less
than in 1929 Many such items OF
equipment have risen very little from
depression lows.
Mass production" prices prevail in
q host of building products and equip
r,ent, declares the maeaNne, and are
greatly improved IN quality and per
fcrmancc
Quoting authorities IN the plumb
Ing field, American Ephder states that
plumbing materla,. are - 10 1913 per
cent below the base Dr,te for 1926
At the same time Sta26aros Of beauty
color, design and efficiency have
greatly increased.
Numerous other items OF building
equipment and materials can be cited
rs being priced far under l929 or 1926
levels
Increases Vary
Wide variation in the amount the
cost of finished home has advanced
from depression lows are quoted by
the publication. These variations are
due 10 local. regional and climatic
conditions and vary from l3 10 Is
per cent.
The prices OF finished homes for
sale by operative builders for the
country as whole have actually
advanced surprisingly little, Ameri-
can Builder declares, and in relation
to the general advance of all prices
the cost OF finished home today
supports builders claims that they
are entirely reasona Bile.
The editorial declares: Higher
building costs are 10 be expected
Those who put off building now, hop
ing for more fayora bic conditions
later. are bound TO be disappointed.
definite housing shortage has de-
veloped. and the advantage that the
home owner has over the renter is
sure 10 increase as rents continue
to go up and the shortage of good
rental homes and apartments in
creases
Now. decidedly is the time 10 build
or buy-and for building industry
men to so inform the public"