Not every suburb is blessed with a perfectly healthful water supply.  We must make sure of that.  We want to find stores and markets sufficient to our smaller needs, at least, and to be within city delivery bounds, so that the man of the house shall not be required to make of himself a beast of burden.  We hope, if we must employ a cook, that the milkman, iceman, and grocery boy will prove acceptable to her, for the policeman is sure to be a dignified native of family.  We want the telephone without a prohibitive toll, electric light and gas of good quality at reasonable rates, streets paved and well cared for, sidewalks of cement, reasonable fire and police protection, a progressive community spirit, and a reputation for our town that will make us proud to name it as our place of abode.

THE HOME ACRE

All these things may be had in scores of American suburbs and smaller cities.  But when we have selected the one or more towns that may please us, and get down to the house or lot, our range of choice will be found rather narrow.  In the neighborhoods we would select, it is probable that few houses are to be rented.  Most of them have been built for occupancy by their owners, who, if forced to go elsewhere, have preferred selling to renting.  There is no prejudice against renters, but the sentiment is against renting, and this sentiment is well grounded in common sense.  Still, some families find it advisable to rent for a year or so, meanwhile studying the local conditions and selecting a building site.  This plan has much to commend it, though it makes a second move necessary.  Others, who do not feel assured that a change in business will not compel an early removal, wisely prefer to rent, if a suitable house can be found for what they can afford to pay.

COMPARATIVE COST IN RENTING

The proportion of income that may be set aside for rent depends on what that payment covers.  In a steam-heated city flat with complete janitor service, for instance, the rent at $40 is really no higher than the $25 suburban house, for heat and water rent are included.  With the former, perhaps as much as a third of one’s income could be spared for the fixed charge of rent; but in the country the proportion cannot with safety be greater than a fifth.  Few satisfactory suburban houses can be rented under $35, and to this must be added the cost not only of coal and water, but of maintenance.  On the whole, we are pretty sure to decide that it is better and cheaper to buy than to rent.

THE LOCATION SENSE

There is some advantage in being able to secure a lot in a square already built up.  If present conditions are satisfactory we may feel reasonably sure that they will remain so.  We know who our neighbors are to be, the sort of houses and other improvements that will affect the sightliness and value of our own property, and the surroundings that should in some degree govern the style of our abode.  There is little of the speculative in such a choice, but we shall have to pay something extra for our assurances.