A House for a Week's Salary

The advertisement was for “the $725 house” – built, painted and finished, “ready for occupancy.” What a bargain! And it was less than a century ago. . . .

It appeared on Page 595 of the 1908 Sears, Roebuck & Co. catalogue. That particular house – plain, but with six rooms on two floors (plus a pantry) -- would cost more than a hundred times as much today. In our present American economy, some of you reading this earn more than $725 is one week.