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PUBLIC
POLICY ISSUES: HOUSING
Sixty-three percent of homeowners and 57% of renters pay more than $750
a month for their housing. For this study, renters are broadly defined
as those renting apartments, attached homes, mobile homes or single-family
homes. The proportion of homeowners paying more than $750 is about the
same as it was in 1996, 1997 and 1998. This may reflect the effects of
low mortgage rates on refinancing and home purchases. While the proportion
of renters paying more than $750 a month is the same as last year, it
has risen by 8 points since 1997 and by 12 points since 1996. This trend
indicates a tight rental market.
Housing conditions and costs do vary by county region.
South County residents are more likely than North County residents to
own a home (71% to 58%) and to pay more than $750 a month for rent (81%
to 49%) and mortgages (69% to 59%). North County residents are more
likely to live in apartments, while South County residents are more
likely to live in attached dwellings. Similar numbers of residents in
both regions are living in single-family homes.
There are some important differences between racial
and ethnic groups. Non-Hispanic whites are considerably more likely
than Latinos to own a home (72% to 36%), to live in single-family homes
(57% to 35%), and to pay more than $750 per month in rent (68% to 39%).
Nearly half of Latinos live in apartments, and about two-thirds are
renters. There are not enough Latino homeowners in the sample to separately
analyze their monthly mortgage costs.
| |
Orange
County |
North |
South |
Latinos |
*N.H.
Whites |
| $750+ rental |
57% |
49% |
81% |
39% |
68% |
| $750+
mortgage |
63 |
59 |
69 |
-- |
62 |
|
| Homeowner |
62% |
58% |
71% |
36% |
72% |
| Renter |
38 |
42 |
29 |
64 |
28 |
|
| Single-family home |
53% |
54% |
49% |
35% |
57% |
| Attached home |
19 |
15 |
29 |
11 |
22 |
| Apartment |
22 |
25 |
17 |
46 |
15 |
| Mobile home, other |
6 |
6 |
5 |
8 |
6 |
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