Census: Nevada had biggest increase in housing, occupied and empty

By David McGrath Schwartz

Thursday, Oct. 6, 2011 | 5:25 p.m.

Nevada real estate boomed and busted like no other state over the past decade.

U.S. Census data released Thursday show Nevada led the nation in the increase of housing units, but fell mightily and topped the nation in vacant homes.

Nevada experienced the largest percentage increase in housing units during the decade among all states; rising from 827,000 to 1.2 million, according to a U.S. Census Bureau report. It also experienced the largest increase the previous decade, from 1990 to 2000.

But Nevada also led all states with the largest percent increase in gross vacancy rate.

Nevada had the highest homeowner vacancy rates, at 5.2 percent, according to the 2010 survey. Arizona followed at 3.9 percent, Florida at 3.8 percent, Georgia 3.4 percent, and Idaho at 3.1 percent.

The national housing inventory increased by 15.8 million units, or 13.6 percent, from 2000 to 2010. Nevada increased by 41.9 percent, followed by Arizona at 29.9 percent, Utah at 27.5 percent, and Idaho at 26.5 percent.