AMERICA’S TOP 10 EMPTIEST CITIES

An empty or tax delinquent home can decrease value of nearby houses by as much as 4.6 percent

Here is a list of the cities with the most homes standing empty in the rental market, according to theU.S. Census Bureau data as reported in the July 20 issue of The Daily Mail:

1. Orlando, Florida
12-Month Averages
Rental vacancy rate: 18.8%
Homeowner vacancy rate: 2.2%

2. Dayton, Ohio
Rental vacancy rate: 11.3%
Homeowner vacancy rate: 5.4%

3. Memphis, Tennessee
Rental vacancy rate: 15%
Homeowner vacancy rate: 3.1%

4. Detroit, Michigan
Rental vacancy rate: 16.9%
Homeowner vacancy rate: 1.7%

5. Richmond, Virginia
Rental vacancy rate: 15.1%
Homeowner vacancy rate: 2.4%

6. Las Vegas, Nevada
Rental vacancy rate: 11.9%
Homeowner vacancy rate: 3.9%

7. Atlanta, Georgia
Rental vacancy rate: 11.3%
Homeowner vacancy rate: 4.2%

8. Houston, Texas
Rental vacancy rate: 15.5%
Homeowner vacancy rate: 1.9%

9. Tampa, Florida
Rental vacancy rate: 12.8%
Homeowner vacancy rate: 3.2%

10. Toledo, Ohio
Rental vacancy rate: 11.5%
Homeowner vacancy rate: 3.8%

The U.S. housing market crisis has seen home values drop and a flood of foreclosures in many parts of the country. This often results in empty homes. The number of vacant properties has increased by a staggering 43.8 percent nationwide since 2000, Censure Bureau figures show.