Deputy Secretary Sims says report shows “significant growth,” but also “significantly higher” housing costs in Seattle-Tacoma area
SEATTLE, DC – October 18, 2010 – (RealEstateRama) — The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) today released its 2009 Seattle Metropolitan Area Housing Survey, the most comprehensive analysis of the area’s housing stock since the Department’s last substantive assessment in 2004. HUD estimates that there were nearly 1.5 million housing units in King, Pierce and Snohomish Counties in 2009, more than 15 percent of which were constructed since 2000 (see attached data).
“It’s no secret the Seattle-Tacoma area has seen significant growth, most especially within the past decade,” said HUD Deputy Secretary Ron Sims. “The numbers also reveal what many longtime residents already know – monthly housing costs are significantly higher than in most other areas of the nation.”
Based on in-depth interviews with more than 2,000 households, HUD estimates there were 1,458,000 residential housing units in the Seattle area in 2009. More than 91 percent of these units were occupied and 7.9 percent were reported as vacant.
The median monthly cost of housing in the Seattle metro area was $1,320 in 2009 compared to the national median of $922. This places the Seattle metropolitan area at the 70th percentile nationwide in monthly housing costs. HUD’s survey also found that in 2009, more than 84 percent of Seattle-area homes had at least two bedrooms and nearly 60 percent had three or more. In addition, more than 99 percent of homes had more than one bathroom and more than half contained two or more.
HUD’s data files are intended for use by economists, housing analysts and others in the research community. The Census Bureau expects to release a more comprehensive narrative report on these data later this fall.
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HUD’s mission is to create strong, sustainable, inclusive communities and quality affordable homes for all. HUD is working to strengthen the housing market to bolster the economy and protect consumers; meet the need for quality affordable rental homes: utilize housing as a platform for improving quality of life; build inclusive and sustainable communities free from discrimination; and transform the way HUD does business. More information about HUD and its programs is available on the Internet at www.hud.gov and espanol.hud.gov.
Housing
Units
Percentage
All Units
1,458,000
100.0
Total Occupied
1,332,000
91.4
Owner Occupied
842,000
57.8
Renter Occupied
489,000
33.6
Vacant
116,000
7.9
Type of Housing Unit Single-family detached
882,000
60.5
Single-family attached
66,000
4.5
Multifamily
457,000
31.3
2-4 units
94,000
6.4
5-9 units
80,000
5.5
10-19 units
105,000
7.2
20-49 units
85,000
5.8
50 or more units
93,000
6.4
Manufactured (mobile)
53,000
3.6
Year Built
Units
Percentage
2005-09
74,000
5.1
2000-04
149,000
10.2
1995-99
106,000
7.3
1990-94
120,000
8.2
1985-89
125,000
8.6
1980-84
90,000
6.2
1975-79
142,000
9.7
1970-74
116,000
7.9
1960-69
167,000
11.5
1950-59
126,000
8.7
1940-49
86,000
5.9
1930-39
39,000
2.6
1920-29
58,000
4.0
Pre-1919
61,000
4.2
Median = 1975
All
Owner Occupied
Renter Occupied
Cost ($)
Units
Percentage
Units
Percentage
Units
Percentage
All
1,331,700
100.0
842,300
100.0
489,400
100.0
No Cash Rent
8,400
0.6
NA
NA
8,400
1.7
Less than 100
3,400
0.3
1,200
0.1
2,200
0.5
100-199
20,600
1.5
12,000
1.4
8,700
1.8
200-249
19,300
1.5
10,000
1.2
9,400
1.9
250-299
15,400
1.2
7,900
0.9
7,500
1.5
300-349
10,900
0.8
6,600
0.8
4,300
0.9
350-399
10,700
0.8
10,000
1.2
700
0.1
400-449
16,200
1.2
10,300
1.2
5,900
1.2
450-499
27,900
2.1
18,300
2.2
9,500
1.9
500-599
51,100
3.8
33,500
4.0
17,600
3.6
600-699
71,200
5.3
38,600
4.6
32,500
6.6
700-799
73,100
5.5
36,200
4.3
37,000
7.6
800-999
143,800
10.8
55,100
6.5
88,700
18.1
1,000-1,249
158,800
11.9
63,800
7.6
95,100
19.4
1,250-1,499
127,700
9.6
66,700
7.9
61,000
12.5
1,500 or more
573,200
43.0
472,200
56.1
100,900
20.6
Seattle Area Median
$1,320
$1,644
$1,016
National Median
$922
$1,051
$784
Contact:
Lee Jones
(206) 220-5356 (work)
(804) 363-7018 (cell)
