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The increase in newly built units occurred within metropolitan areas as well as outside these areas. Inside SMSA's, 37 percent of the vacant homeowner units were new in 1965, compared with 28 percent in 1962. Outside SMSA's, new units accounted for 26 percent of the vacancies in 1965 and 19 percent in 1962. The increase in new units was offset largely by the decrease in units built between 1950 and 1959. As a result, the national supply of vacant rental units remained unchanged.

There were few differences between 1962 and 1965 in characteristics of new homeowner vacancies (table 14). The 1965 supply included proportionately more units with 6 rooms or more and fewer units with 5 rooms. The percentage for vacant units with 6 rooms or more was 58 in 1965 and 44 in 1962; the percentage for 5-room units was 30 in 1965, compared to 48 in 1962. There is also evidence that turnover among for-sale vacancies was considerably slower in 1965 than in 1962. New homeowner vacancies on the market 4 months or more amounted to 53 percent in 1965 and 39 percent

in 1962.

VACANT UNITS NOT FOR RENT OR FOR SALE

Vacant rental and homeowner units

which represent vacancies on the market make up, on the average, about one-third of the total vacant inventory. The remaining vacant units, which account for approximately two-thirds of the vacant stock, comprise vacancies not on the market. This latter group is made up of vacant units that have been rented or sold but awaiting occupancy, units held off market for the owner's use or for some other reason, units that were dilapidated but considered habitable, and units reserved for seasonal occupancy.

Vacant "rented or sold" units constitute the smallest component of units not on the market. Throughout the period 1956 to 1965, this class of units remained at the same level, accounting for approximately 0.4 to 0.5 percent of all housing units in the United States. The proportion of such units did not differ between metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas nor from one region to another.

Of the total vacant units in the category "held off market," approximately three-fourths were held for other reasons, most of which were reported as "personal," and one-fourth were held for occasional use by the owner. Between 1956 and 1965, vacant "held off market" units increased by roughly two-fifths. In 1956, about 2.0 percent of the total housing inventory was reported "held off market." By 1960, the proportion had increased to 2.5 percent and in 1965, rose to 2.9 percent.

The proportion of vacancies "held off market" in nonmetropolitan areas was about twice the proportion in metropolitan areas. While this type vacancy increased inside SMSA's and outside SMSA's, the difference in level remained fairly constant throughout the period.

Regionally, vacant units "held off market" generally followed the trend for rental vacancies. On the average, the Northeast ranked lowest in the proportion of vacancies "held off market," the North Central Region was next, and the South and West ranked highest. For each region except the West, vacant units "held off market" show an up

ward trend between 1956 and 1965. In the Northeast and North Central Regions, however, the increase in such units was more pronounced. The West remained at approximately the same level between 1956 and 1965 in the percentage of vacant units "held off market."

Year-round vacancies that were found to be dilapidated but still considered living quarters remained at the same level between 1956 and 1960 but decreased noticeably during the next 5-year period. Approximately 1.0 percent of all housing units in the United States were vacant dilapidated units in 1956 and about 1.1 percent in 1960, but by 1965, vacant dilapidated units accounted for only 0.7 percent of the total housing inventory. The decline in dilapidated vacant units occurred entirely outside metropolitan areas. Inside SMSA's, the percentage for dilapidated units registered either 0.5 or 0.4 for each year from 1956 to 1965. Outside SMSA's, the percentage was 1.9 in 1956, 2.1 in 1960, and 1.1 in 1965.

Of the four regions, the Northeast consistently had the smallest proportion of dilapidated vacancies--only 0.3 percent to 0.4 percent of all housing units in the region. In the North Central Region, the proportion of dilapidated vacancies was also small and continued at practically the same level; the percentage was 0.7 in 1956 and 0.6 in 1965. The South had the largest proportion of dilapidated vacancies but showed the greatest improvement. The proportion dropped from 2.0 percent in 1956 to 1.2 percent in 1965. The West also showed a downward trend in dilapidated vacancies--from 0.9 percent in 1956 to 0.5 in 1965.

Between 1956 and 1965, the trend in vacant seasonal units continued at the same level for the United States as a whole. The percentage was 2.6 in 1956, 2.7 in 1960, and 2.9 in 1965. There was also no change in the level of vacant seasonal units inside SMSA's; the percentage was 1.2 in 1956 and 0.9 in 1965. Outside SMSA's, where most of the seasonal vacancies were located, the percentage rose sharply, increasing from 4.6 in 1956 to 6.3 in 1965.

Among the geographic regions, the Northeast had the highest proportion of seasonal vacancies and showed the most stability in the level of such units. The North Central Region and the South had relatively fewer seasonal vacancies in 1956 but

showed noticeable increases by 1965. The West experienced the reverse situation, having about the same proportion of seasonal vacancies as the Northeast and North Central Region in 1956 but ranking lowest in 1965.

Table J.--ANNUAL AVERAGE VACANCY RATES BY CONDITION AND TYPE OF VACANCY, FOR THE UNITED STATES, INSIDE AND OUTSIDE STANDARD METROPOLITAN STATISTICAL AREAS, AND REGIONS: 1956, 1960, AND 1965

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Tenure of occupied units.--In 1956, mately 60.0 percent of all households in the United States owned their own homes. By 1965, the percentage for homeowners had moved slowly up to 63.3 percent (table L).

Owner-occupancy rates were sustained at a much higher level outside SMSA's then rates inside SMSA's. Outside metropolitan areas, the owneroccupancy rate moved from 64.6 percent in 1956 to 69.1 percent in 1965; within metropolitan areas, the rate was 57.0 percent in 1956 and 59.7 percent in 1965.

In the Northeast, North Central, and South Regions, owner-occupancy rates followed the national pattern, moving slowly upward over the 10-year period. In the West, on the other hand, owneroccupancy rates showed an upward movement from 1956 to 1960 but a gradual decline from 1961 to 1965.

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1956

1960

1965

60.0

62.1

63.3

57.0

59.0

59.7

64.6

66.8

69.1

54.0

55.5

57.7

66.3

66.4

68.6

60.6

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in character and are socially and economically integrated with the central city. In New England, SMSA's consist of towns and cities, rather than counties. A more detailed discussion of the criteria used to define SMSA's is given in 1960 Census of Housing, Vol. I, States and Small Areas.

The statistics presented for inside SMSA's and outside SMSA's beginning the second quarter 1962 relate to the areas (212) designated SMSA's

at the time of the April 1960 Census. Prior to the second quarter 1962, the statistics related to the areas (168) designated SMA's at the time of the 1950 Census. For a list of the 212 SMSA's and their constituent parts, refer to the individual chapters (or Series HC(1) reports) in the 1960 Census of Housing, Vol. I, States and Small Areas; or to the 1960 Census of Population, Vol. I, Number of Inhabitants. For a list of the 168 areas and their constituent parts, refer to the individual chapters (or bulletins) in the 1950 Census of Housing, Vol. I, General Characteristics; or to the 1950 Census of Population, Vol. I, Number of Inhabitants; or Vol. II, Characteristics of the Population, Part I, United States Summary.

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Urban-rural residence.--The territory sified as urban is the same as that in the 1960 Census. Urban housing comprises all units in (a) places of 2,500 inhabitants or more incorporated as cities, boroughs, villages, and towns (except towns in New England, New York, and Wisconsin); (b) the densely settled urban fringe, whether incorporated or unincorporated, of urbanized areas; (c) towns in New England and townships in New Jersey and Pennsylvania which contain no incorporated municipalities as subdivisions and have either 25,000 inhabitants or more or a population of 2,500 to 25,000 and a density of 1,500 persons or more per square mile; (d) counties in States other than the New England States, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania that have no incorporated municipalities within their boundaries and have a density of 1,500 persons or more per square mile; and (e) unincorporated places of 2,500 inhabitants or more. The remaining units are classified as rural.

OCCUPANCY AND VACANCY CHARACTERISTICS

Housing unit. --Beginning with the second quarter 1960, the 1960 Census housing unit concept was used to enumerate separate living quarters. Prior to that time, separate living quarters were enumerated according to the 1950 dwelling unit definition. The major difference between the two is not in content but in sharpening of the criteria by which separate units are identified. It is expected that the housing unit concept will yield

better coverage of both occupied and vacant living quarters than the dwelling unit concept. Although no statistical measure of the effect of the change is available at this time, it is believed to be too small to affect the vacancy rates.

A group of rooms or a single room is regarded as a housing unit when it is occupied as separate living quarters, that is, when the occupants do not live and eat with any other persons in the structure, and when there is either (1) direct access from the outside or through a common hall, or (2) a kitchen or cooking equipment for the exclusive use of the occupants.

Vacant living quarters which are intended for occupancy as separate living quarters and meet the physical criteria defined above are separate housing units. Since it is customary in some localities for occupants to furnish their own cooking equipment, vacant units without a kitchen or cooking equipment are considered to have such equipment if the last occupants had cooking equipment. Living quarters of the following types are excluded from the housing unit inventory: Dormitories, bunkhouses, and barracks; quarters in predominantly transient hotels, motels, and the like, except those occupied by persons who consider the hotel their usual place of residence; quarters in institutions, general hospitals, and military installations except those occupied by staff members or resident employees who have separate living arrangements.

Quarters for roomers or boarders having shared living arrangements are excluded from the housing inventory if there are five or more such rooms; they are combined as one housing unit if there are four or fewer such rooms.

Trailers, tents, and boats are excluded if vacant, used for business, or used for extra sleeping space or vacations.

Dwelling unit, 1950.--The 1950 dwelling unit was defined as follows: A group of rooms occupied as separate living quarters was a dwelling unit if it had separate cooking equipment or if it constituted the only living quarters in the structure. Each apartment in a regular apartment house was a dwelling unit even though it may not have had separate cooking equipment. Apartments in residential hotels were dwelling units if they had separate cooking equipment or consisted of two or

more rooms.

Vacant quarters which were intended for occupancy as separate living quarters and met the physical criteria defined above were separate dwelling units. Vacant units were considered as having cooking equipment if they were equipped with such equipment or if the last occupants had cooking equipment.

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Occupied housing units.--A housing unit occupied if a person or group of persons was living in it at the time of enumeration or if the occupants were only temporarily absent, as for example, on vacation. The persons living in the unit must consider it their usual place of residence or have no usual place of residence elsewhere. The count of occupied housing units is the same as the count of households.

Tenure.--A unit is owner-occupied if the owner or co-owner lives in the unit, even if it is mortgaged or not fully paid for. All other occupied units are classified as "renter occupied" whether or not cash rent is paid. Thus, units occupied in exchange for services rendered and units provided without payment of cash rent are "renter occupied."

Units occupied by persons with usual residence elsewhere.--A housing unit which is occupied temporarily by persons who usually live elsewhere is enumerated as a vacant unit provided the usual place of residence is held for the household and is not offered for rent or for sale. For example, a beach cottage occupied at the time of enumeration by a family which has a usual place of residence in the city is included in the count of vacant units. Their house in the city would be reported "occupied" and would be included in the count of occupied units since the occupants are only temporarily absent.

Units occupied by persons with usual residence elsewhere are included with seasonal units or with year-round vacant units as dilapidated, or not dilapidated but held off the market, as the case may be.

Vacant housing units.--A housing unit (furnished or unfurnished) is vacant if no persons were living in it at the time of enumeration, except when its occupants were only temporarily absent. Dilapidated vacant units were included if they were intended for occupancy as living quarters; however, if the vacant unit was unfit for use and beyond repair so that it was no longer considered living quarters, it was excluded from the inventory. Vacant units to be demolished were excluded if unfit or if there was positive evidence, such as a sign or mark on the house or in the block, that the unit was to be torn down. units not yet occupied were enumerated as vacant housing units if construction had proceeded to the point that all the exterior windows and doors were installed and final usable floors were in place; otherwise, potential units under construction were

New

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are those intended for occupancy at any time of the year, even though they may not be in use the year round. In resort areas, a housing unit which is usually occupied on a year-round basis was considered a year-round unit. On the other hand, a housing unit located in the closely built-up area of a nonresort city was considered a "year round" unit even though it may be occupied only part of the year. As indicated above, temporarily occupied by persons dence elsewhere are included with year-round vacant units.

year-round units with usual resi

Seasonal vacant units.--Seasonal housing units are those intended for occupancy during only a season of the year and are found primarily in resort areas. In farm areas, housing units used for only a portion of the year to house migratory workers employed during the crop season are classified as seasonal.

Seasonal units comprise unoccupied seasonal units and seasonal units temporarily occupied by persons with usual residence elsewhere. Units in resort areas occupied by persons who considered the unit their usual place of residence or had no other place of residence are classified as occupied. (See also section on "Occupied housing units.")

Available vacant units. --The categories "Available for rent" and "Available for sale only" provide a measure of vacant housing units which are on the market for year-round occupancy, are in either sound or deteriorating condition, and are being offered for rent or for sale. These categories are comparable with the 1950 categories "Nonseasonal not dilapidated, for rent" and "Nonseasonal not dilapidated, for sale only."

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