Data Analysis

The U.S. rental vacancy rate rose to 7.6 percent in the third quarter of 2026 from 7.1 percent a year earlier, while the homeownership rate of 65.5 percent was not statistically different, the Census Bureau reported.

In the South, rental vacancy was 9.2 percent and homeowner vacancy 1.5 percent, neither statistically different from a year earlier.

The national rental vacancy rate was 7.6 percent in the third quarter of 2026, the Census Bureau reported October 28, higher than 7.1 percent in the third quarter of 2025 and 7.3 percent in the second quarter of 2026. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.2 percent, virtually the same as both earlier periods. The homeownership rate was 65.5 percent, not statistically different from 65.3 percent a year earlier or 65.0 percent last quarter. In the South, the region that includes Florida, rental vacancy was 9.2 percent and homeowner vacancy 1.5 percent.

What was the rental vacancy rate in the third quarter of 2026?

It was 7.6 percent, with a margin of error of plus or minus 0.3 point. The Census Bureau states the rate was higher than the third quarter 2025 rate of 7.1 percent and higher than the second quarter 2026 rate of 7.3 percent. It is the only one of the three headline measures in this release that the bureau describes as having changed.

A rental vacancy rate measures the share of the rental inventory that is vacant and for rent. A higher rate means more units are sitting empty and available, which generally gives renters more choice. The median asking rent for vacant units for rent was $1,541 in the quarter, according to the release.

Did homeownership rise in the third quarter of 2026?

The printed rate rose to 65.5 percent from 65.0 percent in the second quarter and 65.3 percent a year earlier. The Census Bureau says the third-quarter rate was not statistically different from either, so this article does not describe it as an increase. The margin of error on the rate is plus or minus 0.5 point, which is larger than either printed change.

Among householders under 35, the homeownership rate was 36.6 percent, compared with 35.2 percent in the second quarter and 37.5 percent a year earlier. The release does not describe the under-35 changes as statistically significant, and they are reported here as printed only.

What happened in the South?

The South's rental vacancy rate was 9.2 percent, compared with 9.1 percent in the third quarter of 2025. Its homeowner vacancy rate was 1.5 percent, compared with 1.4 percent. The Census Bureau says neither was statistically different from a year earlier. It also says the South's homeowner vacancy rate was the highest of the four regions.

The South's homeownership rate was 67.2 percent, the same as a year earlier and compared with 66.9 percent in the second quarter.

The South's 9.2 percent rental vacancy rate was 1.6 points above the national 7.6 percent on the printed figures.

What does this mean for Florida renters and owners?

This quarterly release prints regional figures, and the South covers 16 states plus the District of Columbia. No Florida rate is cited in this article, and the South's figures should not be read as Florida's.

Florida-specific rent trends are covered in our Florida rents article for August and in what $100,000 rents in Florida. Supply on the ownership side is tracked on the Florida housing tracker, and the statewide existing-home picture for September is in our Florida housing market article.

On the building side, the Census Bureau reported in its September construction release that completions were down 14 percent from a year earlier, as covered in our housing starts article. Fewer completions add fewer new units to the rental and for-sale stock in later quarters. That connection is this desk's framing and is not drawn by the Census Bureau.

What is the median asking price for a vacant home for sale?

The release puts the median asking sales price for vacant units for sale at $353,600 in the third quarter. That figure covers vacant units on the market only and is not a measure of all home sale prices. Market prices for Florida metros are on the Miami, Tampa, Orlando and Jacksonville market pages.

People also ask

What is the rental vacancy rate in 2026?

The U.S. rental vacancy rate was 7.6 percent in the third quarter of 2026, higher than 7.1 percent a year earlier, according to the Census Bureau's Housing Vacancies and Homeownership survey.

What is the homeownership rate in the third quarter of 2026?

The U.S. homeownership rate was 65.5 percent, not statistically different from 65.3 percent in the third quarter of 2025 or 65.0 percent in the second quarter of 2026.

What is the rental vacancy rate in the South?

The South's rental vacancy rate was 9.2 percent in the third quarter of 2026, not statistically different from 9.1 percent a year earlier.

What is the homeownership rate for people under 35?

It was 36.6 percent in the third quarter of 2026, compared with 37.5 percent a year earlier. The Census Bureau does not describe that change as statistically significant.

When is the next Housing Vacancies and Homeownership release?

The Census Bureau's schedule lists the fourth-quarter 2026 release for February 2, 2027, at 10:00 a.m.

Limitations

Figures are survey estimates with margins of error. Only the national rental vacancy rate is described by the Census Bureau as higher than a year earlier and last quarter; the homeownership, homeowner vacancy, regional and under-35 figures are reported as printed without implying a change. Second-quarter regional vacancy rates were not readable from the release and are not cited.

Regional margins of error were read from the release PDF by column position and are not cited. No long-run history chart is included because FRED could not be retrieved from either of the desk's machines today; the chart compares the third quarters of 2025 and 2026 as printed. No Florida rate is cited. No figure is sourced to a wire service or secondary mirror.

Sources

U.S. Census Bureau, Quarterly Residential Vacancies and Homeownership, Third Quarter 2026, CB26-161, October 28, 2026: https://www.census.gov/housing/hvs/current/index.html

U.S. Census Bureau, Third Quarter 2026 press release PDF: https://www.census.gov/housing/hvs/files/currenthvspress.pdf

U.S. Census Bureau, Housing Vacancies and Homeownership upcoming releases: https://www.census.gov/housing/hvs/data/upcoming.html

U.S. Census Bureau, New Residential Construction, September 2026, via our housing starts article.

Disclosure: Jon Brooks is a co-founder of Momentum Realty, a Florida real estate brokerage that owns and funds Florida Housing Intelligence. Momentum has a financial interest in Florida real estate transactions, including in markets named here. See our editorial standards.