DEMAND FOR FARMS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22145, 26 June 1935, Page 12

DEMAND FOR FARMS

SOME IiUSINESS DONE HIGHER DEPOSITS ASKED WIDE RANGE OF INQUIRY A stronger demand for farm properties than was the caso a year ago was reported yesterday by several land agents, who were, however, of the opinion that factors still exist which prevent- a great volume of business being done. Though cash demands were not unduly high, only a few of those inquiring were prepared to deposit a reasonable sum in relation to the value of the properties in question. At the same time, a number of good sales had taken place in the past few weeks. " What demand thcro is," one agent stated, " covers the wholo range of properties, from the small one-man farm near the city, to the larger properties at a distance. Fat lamb propositions aro attracting more buyers, especially among thoso farmers, who, when butterfat was down and sheep products rose, engaged in lamb raising as a staud by. They got a certain taste for their sideline and are now intending to change over to sheep. There has been quite a good inquiry for farms capablo of holding about 1000 ewes."

Generally most of the prospective buyers appeared to have too little cash to be regarded as satisfactory clients, but there wero a number of practical men from other parts of the Dominion investigating the market. This northward migration seemed to bo a feature that'was fairly constant in view of the more equable climate of the Auckland Province. At the game time there appeared to bo more sales to overseas visitors who desired to settlo in New Zealand.

In this connection, one recently arrived settler complained yesterday that ho had seen a number of most attractive properties, but tho majority were out of the question on account of being at the end of at least a mile of heavy clay road. " The amount of cash demanded by sellers is substantially higher than it was a year ago," said a leading agent, " and this has been a marked barrier to business. The land is undoubtedly attracting more people than was the case a year ago, but there seems to be an absence of sbund buyers who would be able to keep up the necessary top-dress-ings and repairs. Above all, tho prospective value of farms is not being considered to-day, and sales aro taking place only on the present day production basis."