FHA Makes Home Ownership Possible For Most Renters, George Burnett Says

Uncle Sam is not in the building business, but through the agency of the Federal Housing Administration he becomes figuratively the general ,contra'cto'r and financial underwriter who provides opportunities for all privates in the army of rent payers to acquire homes of their own.

Such is the opinion of George C. Burnett, of Tulare, prominent lumberman and newly named president of the California Lumbermen's Council, whi,ch maintains executive offices in San Francisco. He declared that Northern Californians now are building not only more, but better, houses than in any home building boom in many years.

"This is having a most beneficial and encouraging effect upon the lumber industry," Mr. Burnett said. "Tlhe lumbermen appreciate, too, the prote'ction given home buyers and builders through government inspection, as required under the single mortgage system of financing.

"'When government inspectors establish the sourndness of investment in a lot, the buyer need have no worry as to location. An architectural staff next scrutinizes plans and specifi,cations to rout all bugaboos contrary to the best practices of ,construction, and to determine that building materials are of a quality necessary to pass exacting standards required for lasting construction and government-insured fi nancing.

"This is followed by frequent inspections by government experts from the laying of foundations until the house is ready for occupancy. Thus complete protection is provided on every home project on which Un,cle Sam serves as general contra'ctor.

"In addition, the government underwrites the financing of the house by insuring private loans from authorized lending institutions, up to 8O per ,cent of the value, and permits amortization of the loan in monthly rent-like instalments over periods as long as 2O years. Under this plan the Federal llrousing Administration places home ownership within easy reach of practically every rentpaying family."

How the resultant boom in home building is boosting payrolls in the lumber industry was indicated by the current report of State Labor Commissioner Edward L, Nolan, showing that March, as compared to the same mo,nth last year, registered a 20 per cent increase in weekly payrolls in sawmills and logging operations, and a 22 per cent in,crease in average weekly earnings. The increase in weekly payrolls of planing mills and sash and door factories was 43 per ,cent, he said, with a 24 per cent increase in average weekly earnings. Statistics for April, now being compiled, indicate that the increase for the past month will be even greater.