Evening star., 1939-12-30
Real EstateS Sales
Expected 10 Go
Higher in 1910
Newly Built Homes
To Cost More in
Half of Cities

Volume Of real estate sales in
1910 will be higher than for 1889
IN three cities out of every four
In the country, while residential
property, particularly newly built
structures and existing houses OF
modern design and low price, will
cost more in about half the Ma
tion's metropolitan areas, according
to a forecast in the January issue
of Freehold, magazine OF real es-
tate. The prediction is based on
confidential information received
from organizations affiliated with
the National Association OF Real
Estate Boards in 261 cities.
Many boards indicate that 1910
will be a recession year for old
houses-those that are obsolete-if
present financing differentials con-
tinue. A split will be noticed for
houses, apartments and business
space, between the market situa-
ton for obsolescent properties and
for those properties old and new,
that have been tailored to fit to-
days life. However, for desirable
old types and new structures. scarce
ly one city in 20 faces either price
drop or slower sales.
War Unpredictable Factor.
Last years January l forecast by
the real estate boards, first ever
attempted, hit the nail square on
the head. But prediction for the
coming year must be made with
fingers crossed, the boards say, be-
cause of huge unpredictables affect
ing the whole world, first of which
is the course and effect of war.
War activities have decidedly af-
fected individual cities. some up
ward, some downward But realtors
of most cities are distinctly not bas-
ing their forecasts on war calls.
Industrial upthrust has penetrated
80 far that industrial property will
have heightened demand in one
third of all cities reporting, the
boards predict Only per cent of
the cities look for let-down. Price
changes should follow demand, and
16 per cent of the cities look for
industrial property prices to rise in
the coming year. Seventy EIGHT per
cent see a continuance of present
prices.
New feature of the real estate sit
uation is likely to be stir in the
long moribund demand for vacant
property. In 48 per cent of the
cities over the country real estate
boards predict livelier market i'm
mediately ahead for this type of
property. Only per cent expect
present interest in it to fall off.
Rents May Move Up.
Change in the rent level. where
any occurs, will be predominantly
upward, the boards predict. Rents
for detached houses will rise much
more generally than apartment
rents. In single-family dwellings, As
per cent of the cities look for rise,
So per cent look for present rates
to continue; only per cent look for
lower rates. Apartment rents are
expected to stay put in 81 per cent
of the cities, to rise in 81 per cent
of the cities.
Construction volume will increase,
but not evenly in all types. The 100
per cent increase Tor single-family
dwellings" for the Nation as whole
by one high but unquotable Wash
ington source comedies quite accu-
rately with the real estate board
forecast. In 81 per cent of the cities
livelier new home building is in
sight, and in only per cent of cities
is it likely to fall off. Only "a per
cent of the cities expect greater ac-
tivity in apartment construction. but
81 per cent expect present volume
to hold. 1t is interesting that II per
cent see an up in construction of
new business buildings, but on the
whole commercial construction
(See REAL ESTATE, Page B-2)