HOUSING INVENTORY

Housing Stock*

As of the fourth quarter of 1999, the estimate of the total housing stock, 118,827,000 units, decreased a statistically insignificant 0.6 percent from the third quarter of 1999 but increased 1.1 percent above 1998's fourth- quarter level. The number of occupied units rose from last quarter by a statistically insignificant 0.1 percent and was 1.2 percent above the same quarter in 1998. Owner-occupied homes were unchanged from the third quarter of 1999 but up 2.0 percent above the fourth quarter of 1998. Rentals increased a statistically insignificant 0.5 percent from last quarter but decreased a statistically insignificant 0.3 percent from the fourth quarter of 1998. Vacant units were down 6.3 percent from last quarter and decreased 0.1 percent from 1998's fourth 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, was unchanged from the third quarter of 1999 but was down 0.2 percentage point from the fourth quarter of 1998. The 1999 fourth-quarter national rental vacancy rate, at 7.9 percent, decreased a statistically insignificant 0.3 percentage point from the third quarter of 1999 but increased a statistically insignificant 0.1 percentage point from the fourth quarter of 1998.

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 rate was 66.9 percent in the fourth quarter of 1999, down a statistically insignificant 0.1 percentage point from last quarter but up 0.5 percentage point from the fourth quarter of 1998. The homeownership rate for minority households increased a statistically insignificant 0.2 percentage point from the third quarter of 1999 and increased 0.6 percentage point from the fourth quarter of 1998. The 60.3-percent homeownership rate for young households was down a statistically insignificant 0.5 percentage point from last quarter's rate and was down a statistically insignificant 0.4 percentage point from 1998's fourth quarter. The 1999 annual rate for all households of 66.8 percent increased 0.3 percentage point from 1998. The annual rate for minorities rose 0.6 percentage point, and the rate for young married couple households gained a statistically insignificant 0.1 percentage point from the previous year.

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