LOS ANGELES (AP) - New census data shows an increase in the share of empty homes and rental apartments in California over the last decade, the latest news to hit the state's battered housing market.
Census data released Thursday shows the homeowner vacancy rate shot up from 1.4 percent to 2.1 percent while the rental vacancy rate rose from 3.7 percent to 6.3 percent between 2000 and 2010.
At the same time, the average household size in both owner-occupied and rental units rose.
Real estate experts say Californians have left the state in search of jobs elsewhere or doubled up with family to ride out the storm in the housing market.
http://www.news10.net/news/article/137423/2/Census-shows-empty-homes-apts-in-California