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National vacancy rates in the second quarter 2012 were 8.6 percent for rental housing and 2.1 percent for homeowner housing, according to the Dept. of Commerce’s Census Bureau. The rental vacancy rate of 8.6 percent was 0.6 percentage points lower than the rate recorded in the second quarter 2011 and 0.2 percentage points lower than last quarter. The homeowner vacancy rate of 2.1 percent was 0.4 percentage points lower than the second quarter 2011 rate and 0.1 percentage point lower than the rate last quarter.

The homeownership rate of 65.5 percent was 0.4 percentage points lower than the second quarter 2011 rate and 0.1 percentage point higher than the rate last quarter.

In the second quarter 2012, the median asking sales price for vacant for-sale units was $134,600.

Approximately 86 percent of the housing units in the United States in the second quarter 2012 were occupied and 14 percent were vacant. Owner-occupied housing units made up 56.4 percent of total housing units, while renter-occupied units made up 29.7 percent of the inventory in the second quarter 2012. Vacant year-round units comprised 10.6 percent of total housing units, while 3.4 percent were for seasonal use.

C.A.R.