Evening star., 1943-09-18
Realtors Find HOUSING
Million Units Short
In National Survey

Results Of the 4lst semiannual
survey of the realty market by the
National Association of Real Estate
Boards, revealed today. indicate
there is housing shortage OF near
ly 1,000,000 units, termed by the as
sociation "the most critical" since
the last war The report also de-
clared this national problem would
be aggravated during the next six
months by expected increases in
housing demands in 50 per cent of
the cities surveyed
This is the first of series of state
ments which will be issued by the
association during the next few
weeks and is based on reports from
287 cities. There is an undersupply
Of single-fanily dwellings in SO per
cent Of the cities and in "a per cent
Of the war industry areas, while
apartment shortages were reported
IN rs per cent Of the cities and in IS
per cent OF the war industry areas
surveyed.
Estimate Needs.
Real estate boards of the 2s7 cities
and members of the National Insti-
tute Of Real Estate Brokers and
other institutes Of the association
reporting In the survey estimate
their local shortage OF single-family
houses quantitatively as about one
for every 1872 persons, and the apart
ment shortage as one for every I'll
persons. Projection of these figures
indicates that under present condi-
tions of maximum employment, we
have national undersupply Of 522,-
385 houses and 3,241 apartments. a
total of 925, ,626 dwelling units. The
backlog of demand augurs well for
postwar building.
A critically severe shortage must
be dealt with in limited number of
war production centers, the survey
indicates.
Some of the cities that were most
crowded In the earlier war period
begin to feel that their peak de-
mand has been reached. They say
that their supply, while not COM
Portable, is now adequate or will be
when current construction Is COM
pleted. 1t Is significant that only
81 per cent Of the war areas ex-
pect the housing squeeze to tighten
In the coming six months. Thus we
appear to be over the biggest hump
In finding shelter for wartime in
migrants, except where changes in
military requirements cause expan-
sion of industry In new localities.
For ordinary civilian housing needs,
however, no relief is In sight during
the war period, the report noted.
Big Cities Underhoused.
Real estate boards, preparing for
new building when the bans are lift
ed, are nevertheless watching the
situation carefully, lest shortage now
become oversupply after the war.
The larger the reporting city the
more likely 1t is to report a hous-
ing shortage. OF cities in the over
100000 population bracket 95 per
cent are underhoused. Regionally
the Southwest Coast States show
most general housing need; 100 per
cent OF them have q shortage.
Next come New England and the
Northwest States, where SO per cent
Of reporting cities have housing
pinch.
Private enterprise can supply 100
per cent Of presently needed war
housing If given right conditions,
say So per cent Of the surveyed
cities. While new war housing Is
sometimes excepted, residential
rents are insufficient to justify in
vestment In rental housing at pres
ent construction costs in IS per cent
Of reporting communities" the sur
Yey found.