Laurel outlook., 1946-01-02
Go Slowly On
Home Building
Expert Sees 1S-Month Delay
On New Houses; Average
Cost Much Higher.

WASHINGTON.-The government
is out of the way on your new home
building plans, but don't tack 'fol
sale" sign on the old diggings jus
yet. Even if you're tenant, better
hang on to the lease for 18 month:
or so. 1t will take that long fol
builders even to make a good den
in Americas new-home demand.
So many persons need just a decen
shelter-let alone a postwar dream
home-that the builders are likely
to be swamped in a nylon-counteI
rush. Stay out of it for a while.
That's the advice of w. Wads-
worth Wood, the publisher of "The
Small Homes Guide" a periodical
which has kept running survey on
what Americans want in their post
war homes and what they're likely
to get.
Other Predictions.
With construction controls revoked
as of October IS, Mr.. Wood offers
these other findings for home
hungry Americans:
First, the house of your future
will cost about $4,000 on the aver
age.
Second, it will be living machine
de luxe.
Reports to "The Small Homes
Guide" from prospective buyers
show that AZ per cent-nearly half
expect to spend between $4,000
and $4,000. Before the war the aver
age cost was little under $4,000.
Here comes the blow: Mr.. Wood
believes that the prewar $4,000 home
may cost up to $4,000, a jump of so
per cent. Government officials see
smaller but still sizable increase
about one-third, attributable mainly
to sleeper labor costs. That would
make the $4,000 prewar house cost
$4,000.
Mr.. Wood, in an interview, said
the one-third increase might be
about right in the south and some
other areas where lower wages and
mild climate permit cheaper con-
struction. But, he said, for most
cities the government guess is too
conservative.
Furthermore, the $4,000 estimate
does not include the lot. Add on
another 10 or Is per cent for that.
The chance of federal ceilings to
control residence prices is nearly
zero.
The office of price administration
talks about asking congress for au-
thorlty to clamp them on, but the
watchword on Capitol Hill is "de-
control"
Price-Data Help Likely.
Reconversion Director John w.
Snyder asks as a substitute that the
housing and pricing agencies advise
prospective home buyers how much
to pay. Even this gets up the dander
of construction men. An "advised
price," they say, is tantamount to a
ceiling.
Likeliest substitute is system by
which some federal office in each
city will keep sample lists of houses
which have sold for fair price. By
looking at the list you will be able
to decide whether the price asked
of you is in line.
Seven out of 10 families either ex-
pect to build new house or i'm
prove the old one, Mr.. Woods sur
veys show. About II million want
to build, and half of these have been
putting money aside.
Compared with that demand, the |
100000 homes which builders ex-
pect to start in the next year are
a drop in the bucket.
"If you are decently housed now,
sit tight for time" Mr.. Wood ad-
vises. eff your rental lease expires
in six months, better renew it for
another full year.
ga year and a half is not too
much time for thoughtful planning
and careful working out of your
iamily's requirements. There are
countless houses that could have
been good houses if a few extra
months had been used for planning"