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Comment by dv_dt

2 years ago

That definition of vacant does not seem include empty units with owners elsewhere.

You're reading it wrong. Those would count as vacant.

> In addition, a vacant unit may be one which is entirely occupied by persons who have a usual residence elsewhere.

  • The sentence says “may”. And the previous sentence says “ A housing unit is vacant if no one is living in it at the time of the interview, unless its occupants are only temporarily absent.”

    I guess we would have to read further on how they determine temporary. But given the sampling method, I would guess people doing a door to door survey and noting it as temporary absent if it’s well kept?

    • The FED graph uses census vacancy data, which is what I’m assuming the original article does as well. So the metric is apples to apples.