Friday, November 9, 2012 / by Carlos J Higareda
Home Ownership Rate to Rise Soon?
Home Ownership Rate to Rise Soon?
Another sign economic recovery: The home ownership rate is no longer falling. It remained unchanged from the previous quarter, standing at 65.5 percent in the third quarter, the Commerce Department reported this week. A year ago, the home ownership rate stood at 66.3 percent.
The home ownership rate is still far from its 70 percent peak during the housing boom. The rate started to drop soon after as the number of foreclosures began to soar, yet foreclosures are starting to slow.
The Commerce Department reported Tuesday that the home owner vacancy rate dropped to 1.9 percent in the third quarter — the lowest rate recorded.
“Some industry watchers expect the home ownership rate to increase again as consumers take advantage of depressed housing prices — down by a third or more nationwide — and interest rates that have made owning a home cheaper than renting in many markets,” The Wall Street Journal reports.
Source: “Scared Americans Still Skipping Home Ownership,” The Wall Street Journal (Oct. 31, 2012)