send their produce to the center of greatest demand, and therefore of
readiest sale, even though it costs more for transportation than to the
smaller markets near by. So suburban grocers and provision men are wont
to buy in the city markets, and add the cost of transportation back from
the city, and an additional profit for the transaction, to the price to
the consumer.

Owing to the close competition for householders among real-estate men,
it is now almost as easy to purchase a suburban home as it is to rent
one, and it is therefore advisable to do this. The interest on purchase,
and the fixed charges of taxes, insurance, water rent, etc., should be
counted as rent, but a higher percentage of income may be safely
allotted to these than to rent proper, since the purchase is also an
investment. As a rule, the increase of land value near a growing city
will considerably exceed the diminution in the value of the
improvements. Indeed, owing to the constant advance of cost of building
material in recent years, there is often enhancement rather than
depreciation in the house value.

For these economic reasons it is advisable to buy an old house when
its cost is less than the cost of constructing a new one of the same
desirability. The home-seeker, however, should curb his propensity to
make extensive alterations, for, one leading to another, he will find
at the end (if he ever reaches it) that he has virtually built a new
house at a cost greater than he could afford.

On the other hand, he should avoid those houses built on speculation to
sell. In these a showy appearance is gained at the expense of durability
of construction, and the purchaser will find that he must pay in
plumbing, coal bills, and general repairs an amount he had not