The national rental housing vacancy rate declined slightly, while the homeowner vacancy rate increased slightly during the fourth quarter of 2009, the Department of Commerce’s Census Bureau announced this week. See the report.

The rental vacancy rate for the fourth quarter was 10.7 percent, down from 11.1 percent in the third quarter, but up from 10.1 percent during the fourth quarter of 2008. The rate showed its first decline in four quarters.

The housing vacancy rate for the fourth quarter was 2.7 percent, up from 2.6 percent in the third quarter, but down from 2.9 percent during the fourth quarter of 2008. The housing vacancy rate rose above 2 percent in 2005, and kept climbing until it peaked at 2.9 percent in the first quarter of 2008 and again at 2.9 percent during the fourth quarter.

By region, the rental vacancy in the South was 13.7 percent, the Midwest was 11.2 percent, the West was 8.9 percent, and the Northeast was 7.2 percent. Each rate was up from the fourth quarter of 2008.

By region, the housing vacancy in the South was 2.9 percent, the Midwest was 2.8 percent, the West was 2.7 percent and the Northeast was 1.9 percent. Each rate was down compared to the fourth quarter of 2008.