HOWJTO BUY THE FARM 19 



its character sure. The increase in your land value depends 

 first upon the presence, then upon the efforts, of others; 

 it is by their labor you hope to profit. 



Therefore, buy property on leading thoroughfares ; except 

 in a very small section devoted to the residence of millionaires, 

 the price of residence property has a limit; even there the 

 merest accident or the whim of fashion may destroy the value, 

 but there is no telling what figure business property may reach. 



Do not build unless you have to. It is rare that a build- 

 ing pays five per cent net on the value of the land and the 

 cost of the house. "Who buys a house already wrought, 

 gets many a brick and nail for nought." If, however, you 

 can get a piece of ground in a growing neighborhood and 

 live on it till you can sell at an advance, that is the safest, 

 and surest of investments. It delivers you from the power 

 of the landlord. 



Lastly in real estate don't bite off more than you can 

 chew. 



Most of these rules apply to the purchase of suburban 

 land. In farm buying, keep as close to your market as you 

 can. See that railway facilities are all right ; get land likely 

 to be needed for other purposes. The best way to begin is 

 by securing all information possible from state agricultural 

 departments. Write to the industrial agents of important 

 railroads traversing the section hi which you want to locate. 

 They have detailed information regarding land, markets, so- 

 cial conditions, etc. ; get from the United States Agricultural 

 Department a map showing the soil survey of the section of 

 your choice. It must be borne in mind that personal aid is 

 not to be expected from State Agricultural Departments, 

 Bureaus of Immigration, railway companies, or any public 

 agency. 



