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HUD RELEASES 2009 HOUSING SURVEY OF SEATTLE-TACOMA METROPOLITAN AREA

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)

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U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is the nation’s housing agency committed to increasing homeownership, particularly among minorities; creating affordable housing opportunities for low-income Americans; and supporting the homeless, elderly, people with disabilities and people living with AIDS. The Department also promotes economic and community development, and enforces the nation’s fair housing laws.

Contact:

Brian Sullivan
(202) 708-0685