The big rural housing/fix-up market

URAL housing, until recently a scattered market overlooked bv almost everyone, has become one of the hottest growth areas in the con' struction field.

The new priorities given to rural housing needs and opportunities by the administration have been spurred by the realization that 70 ,. percent of America's population lives on only 2 percent of the land.

The provision of decent housing in rural areas is also getting attention because no fewer than half of the nation's six million substandard I housing units are found outside of the cities.

To correct thi"s siluatinn, three rnillian ol the six mi,llinn subsid,ized' low-incorne howing units proiected, lor the nex,t ten years will be built i:n rural America,

How big is rural America? Sixty million people! Most people think of ' rural housing in terms of the old homestead, or the little log cabin in the woods.

, In fact, B0 percent of the rural populationor 48 million peoplelives in small towns of up to 5,500 population. Such towns are now classified by the Farmers Home Administration as part of the rural population. The other 12 million people live on farms.

For purposes of administering rural development programs, consideration is now being give.n in Congress to including towns of up to 10,000 population, which would increase the rural share of the total population by six million people, or another 10 percent.

Story dt a Gfonce

A little known factor in the housing and fix-up market: rural homes can mean new business to those equipped to serve this market . . . new government programs are a big factor.

The rural housing market is in three segments:

(l) Farm-homes, many of them dilapidated and badly in need of replacement or repair.

(2) Housing for about 260,000 migrant farm workers, most' of whom require shelter at several locations during the year.

(3) Shelter requirements of the many thousands of small towns across the countrv.

Our thanks to the American Plywood Associaian fqr their kind permission to reprint this excellent article.Edinr.

Multifarnily housing has considerable potential as a solution in small towns. However, as recently as 1960, single-family detached units made up 96 percent of the rural housing market.

The Farmers Home Administration of the Department of Agriculture is the federal agency responsi' ble for administering rural housing prograrns. It is the rural counterpart of the Federal Housing Administiation. Farmers Home Administration housing programs have grown more than 30-fold in the last 12 years. They are certain to be an increasingly important part of U.S. housing production in this decadeperhaps to the extent of 8 to 9 per' cent of all housing starts.

During fiscal 1969, these programs accounted for over 50,000 loans worth about half a billion dollars. In fiscal 1970, which ended June 30, these increased to 80,000 loans and more than a/n billion dollars.

Ahlwugh twt, yet approued, by Congress, the projected 1971 bud'get lor rural lwwing is almost 1r/2 billi,on iloll.ars. This would, support a,bout 150,000 loans.

In other words, the expected level of activity is double that of the last fiscal year and triple the 1969 level. It's anticipated that at least half of (Conirurl.u.

Door Merchqndising Progrom

The Bel-Air Door Co., working in conjunction with The Merchant Magazine, has been getting excellent results {rom their latest dealer merchandising program, according to Bel-Air president Sam Fineman.

before you mqke your move Richardson MiIl & Lwnber did

tlsing some 10,000 reprints of a two-page advertisernerrt that appcared in a recent Merchant Magazine issue" Bel-Air's sales {orce distlibuted the reprints and heJped dealt rs post them in the door section in yards all over the we-stcrn United States.

Reprints were also used as mailers and were placed in buyers catalogs.

BlttlNGS. Mont.. HooHoo club president Roland Mahnke and his wife at a recent holiday season club party af tended by nearly 70 people. Club has had a particularly active season. despite the weather.

Arizonq Sqlesmen Honored

A 41000 square foot utility, storage build. ing using the latest methods of Treated Pole Construction. This facility, including asphalt paving, was erectetl in iess than 16 days incorporating the use of skylights and fiberglass paneling.

For a complete Total Proje6l-ls7n l{sy tob or an addition, check with the people who know and can deliaer.

Treated Pote

Build.ers, Inc. 621 E. Princeton St. Ontario, Calif. 91762 (714) 986-4466