Real Estate News & Views

According to Forbes Online, Kansas City metro area tops our list of America's Abandoned Cities. In Kansas City, rental vacancy rates rose from 11.9% to 15% over the past year; homeowner vacancy rates nearly doubled, up from 2.1% to 3.8%. Comparatively, the average homeowner vacancy rate in the country's 75 largest metro areas improved slightly from 3% to 2.7%, while the rental vacancy rate edged up to 10.2% from 10% a year ago.


Second on our list is the San Francisco-Oakland metro, where high prices are pushing Bay Area residents out of the region. Third is Tucson, Ariz., where the aftermath of the housing boom has left a glut of inventory. The pair's predicament illustrates both sides of the vacancy coin.


3. Tucson, Ariz.
Tucson, Ariz.
Homeowner vacancy rank: 53 of 75
Rental vacancy rank: 71 of 75


4. Dayton, Ohio (tie)
Dayton, Ohio
Homeowner vacancy rank: 74 of 75
Rental vacancy rank: 49 of 75

8. Miami, Fla.
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-Miami Beach, Fla.
Homeowner vacancy rank: 70 of 75
Rental vacancy rank: 48 of 75

11. Seattle, Wash. (tie)
Seattle-Bellevue-Everett, Wash.
Homeowner vacancy rank: 45 of 75
Rental vacancy rank: 69 of 75

14. San Jose, Calif.
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, Calif.
Homeowner vacancy rank: 52 of 75
Rental vacancy rank: 57 of 75


Read on for more lifestyle coverage, from the best downtowns for empty-nesters to the Forbes Luxury Housing Index.


http://www.forbes.com/2009/07/23/vacancy-homes-rents-lifestyle-real-estate-vacancy-cities.html?feed=rss_forbeslife_realestate