Housing Stock*

As of the third quarter of 2000 the estimate of the total housing stock, 119,785,000 units, was up a statistically insignificant 0.3 percent from the second quarter of 2000 and increased a statistically insignificant 0.2 percent above 1999’s third quarter level. The number of occupied units increased a statistically insignificant 0.5 percent from the second quarter of 2000 and rose 0.6 percent above the third quarter in 1999. Owner-occupied homes increased a statistically insignificant 1.2 percent from the second quarter of 2000 and were up 1.6 percent above last year’s third quarter. Rentals decreased a statistically insignificant 1.1 percent from last quarter and decreased a statistically insignificant 1.4 percent from the third quarter of 1999. Vacant units were down 1.4 percent from last quarter and decreased 3.3 percent from 1999’s third quarter.

*Components may not add to totals because of rounding. Units in thousands. **This change is not statistically significant. Source: Bureau of the Census, Department of Commerce

Vacancy Rates

The homeowner vacancy rate, at 1.6 percent, increased 0.1 percentage point from the second quarter of 2000 but was unchanged from the third quarter of 1999.

The 2000 second quarter national rental vacancy rate, at 8.2 percent, was a statistically insignificant increase of 0.2 percentage point from the previous quarter but was unchanged from the same quarter of last year.

1Major changes related to the survey effective with 1994 first-quarter data. **This change is not statistically significant. Source: Bureau of the Census, Department of Commerce

Homeownership Rates

The national homeownership set a new record, rising to a rate of 67.7 percent in the third quarter of 2000. The rate was up 0.5 percentage point from last quarter and was up 0.7 percentage point from the third quarter of 1999. The homeownership rate for minority households increased 0.6 percentage point from the second quarter of 2000 and also increased 0.6 percentage point from the third quarter of 1999. The 61.0-percent homeownership rate for young households was up 0.7 percentage point from the second quarter of this year and up a statistically insignificant 0.2 percentage point from 1999’s third quarter.

** This change is not statistically significant. Source: Bureau of the Census, Department of Commerce