HD 7293 A287 1971-75

National vacancy rates in rental and in homeowner housing in 1971 showed no change from the levels reported in 1970. In the first quarter 1971, the rental vacancy rate was 4.9 percent and the homeowner vacancy rate was 1.0 percent. These results are based on information obtained in sample surveys conducted by the Bureau of the Census, U.S. Department of Commerce.

Vacancy rates in homeowner and in rental housing have been relatively stable for the past few years. In homeowner housing, the vacancy rate has remained at approximately the same level since the first quarter 1968. In rental housing, the rate has been approximately the same since the fourth quarter 1968.

JUN 24 1971

REFERENCE

In the first quarter 1971, the vacancy rate in rental housing inside standard metropolitan statistical areas (SMSA's) remained at a lower level than the rate outside SMSA's, 4.7 percent as compared with 5.5 percent. Within the SMSA's, the rental vacancy rate in central cities was not statistically different from the rate in noncentral city areas. In homeowner housing, vacancy rates were approximately the same in metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas as well as in the central city and noncentral city portions of the SMSA's.

Among the regions, the South had the highest proportion of rental vacancies, and the Northeast continued to have the lowest. Rental vacancy rates by region were 2.1 for the Northeast,

First quarter

Table 1.--RENTAL AND HOMEOWNER VACANCY RATES, FOR THE UNITED STATES: 1960 TO 1971

Year

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Table 2.--VACANCY RATES FOR TOTAL RENTAL AND HOMEOWNERS UNITS, BY AREA: 1971 AND 1970

Table 3.--VACANCY RATES FOR RENTAL AND HOMEOWNER UNITS WITH SELECTED CHARACTERISTICS: FIRST QUARTER 1971 AND 1970

1Total rental units consist of renter-occupied units and vacant available-for-rent units. Total homeowner units consist of owner-occupied units and vacant available-for-sale units.