Vacant Homes at Record Level WASHINGTON D.C. (Associated Press) -

The Census Bureau says the percentage of vacant homes in the U.S. has hit a record high in the first quarter of this year.

The report, released Monday, shows that 2.9 percent of U.S. homes - excluding rental properties - were vacant, compared with 2.8 percent in the fourth quarter of 2007.

The West had the biggest gain in vacancy rates among homeowner, rising to 7 percent in the January-March period from 6.5 percent in the fourth quarter of 2007. Vacancy rates fell in the Midwest and South, but rose in the Northeast.
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