Evening star., 1939-08-19
Inspection Service
Seeks 10 Insure
Better Values
Federal Home Loan
Bank Board AssoiIs
Jerry Built Homes

Small homes, we'll planned and
honestly built, thus meriting larger
mortgages for longer terms and at
lower interest rates-such is the
high aim of planning and inspec-
ton service sponsored by the Federal
Home Loan Bank Board. The Amer
lean Institute of Architects has ap-
proved the idea and, at their recent
national convention, manufacturers
of building supplies enthusiastically
Endorsed it. Building and loan as
sociations and other large mortgage
agencies are said to be interested.
The need of such service is re-
vealed by the experience of the Home
Owners Loan Corp. Nearly half
of the million homes refinanced by
H. o. L. c. had to be reconditioned
to make them acceptable risks. Most
builders of small homes have felt
they could not afford to employ
architects, or that such service was
unnecessary. This skimping has re-
suited in poor planning and shoddy
construction.
To combat this evil, groups Of
architects are urged to syndicate
plans to prospective home builders.
One plan may be used several times,
each use yielding a fee of about
500. A central Office staff is sug-
gested to supervise construction and
render other routine service that
usually takes so much of an archi-
tect's time, this staff also to issue
a certificate of construction on COM
pletion of each residence A wider
variety of designs is possible through
the exchange of plans between such
architectural groups.
Real Saving Is Promised.
It Is claimed that when this Ger
tifled" building plan meets general
acceptance it will enable a family
of limited means to have a home
more commodious, as well as better
built: to acquire it with a smaller
down payment and to retire the
mortgage in easier monthly INSTALL
ments than would be required for
a less expensive but Jerry" built
house. For instance, mortgage for
80 per cent of the value of $1,000
certified" home cat per cent in
terest and amortiZed over 20 years.
undoubtedly would be more attrac-
tive to a lending agency than loan
for 80 per cent of the cost of
$4,000 Jerry" built house cat per
cent and amortized over only II
years..
Thus the $4,000 shoddily built
house would require $500 cash and
installments of approximately $50
per month, whereas the $4,000 Ger
titled" home could be built for only
$500 cash and be paid for at $28 per
month. Just how important is the
additional $1,000 thus made avail
able is best appreciated by those who
have tried to plan low-cost homes.
Service Gets Results.
A slight increase in size makes
house fairly comfortable instead of
cramped. However, the greatest diff
ferences are in sturdier construction,
better materials, more economical
operating cost, lower upkeep and
slower depreciation. Adequate joists
prevent springing floors and better
bracing of the frame keeps walls
erect and rigid. Plaster on metal
1ath produces permanently beautiful
walls and ceilings. Metal lath pro-
vides built-in crack prevention, re-
ducing redecorating expense. 1t also
adds fire protection. The additional
$1,000 may provide insulation, thus
increasing all-year comfort and cut
ting fuel bills.
Under the title of Architects Ger
titled Homes Association, Inc, SO
Buffalo, N Y, architects inaugurated
small-homes service about 18
months ago. More than 200 house
plans are available at the associ-
atoms Office, and small models illus
trating two more score of these plans
are on display in banks and other
prominent places. The association
believes in advertising and will spend
$4,000 this year for newspaper space
and radio time to promote home
building. Similar groups have been
formed in Rochester, N. Y, and other
Eastern cities.