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Report finds that Flint's home vacancy rate is the highest among US cities

Steve Carmody
/
Michigan Radio

Flint’s home vacancy rate is more than four times the national rate, according to a new report.

Realty Trac says nationally 1.6% of homes are vacant. In Michigan, it’s 3.4%. In Flint, 7.2% are vacant.

Daren Blomquist is with Realty Trac.  He says Flint’s high vacancy rate is “defining the housing market”.

“When you get to a certain threshold, and I would say Flint is far above that threshold, it becomes a driving piece of the market.” Says Blomquist. 

Blomquist says more than 80% of Flint’s home vacancies are ‘investment properties’, owned by absentee owners. 

Flint’s vacancy rate is well above that of other U.S. cities.

Youngstown, Ohio and Detroit ranked second and third on the list.  

Steve Carmody has been a reporter for Michigan Public since 2005. Steve previously worked at public radio and television stations in Florida, Oklahoma and Kentucky, and also has extensive experience in commercial broadcasting.
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