EMBARGOED UNTIL: 10 A.M. EDT, SEPTEMBER 11, 1997 (THURSDAY) Public Information Office CB97-145 301-457-3030/301-457-3670 (fax) 301-457-4067 (TDD) e-mail: pio@census.gov Robert Callis 301-763-8165 Foreign-Born Citizens As Likely To Own Homes as Native-Born Census Bureau Finds The homeownership rate for foreign-born citizens was virtually the same last year--about 67 percent--as for persons born in the United States, according to a first-time report released today by the Commerce Department's Census Bureau. The report shows that 33 percent of non-citizens owned their own homes. "While you might expect that the homeownership rate for non-citizens would be significantly lower than for U.S. citizens, these data help demonstrate that immigrants who become permanent citizens have the same success in owning a home as native-born citizens," said Robert Callis, author of Moving to America-- Moving to Homeownership, H121-97-2. Highlights from the report include: - Foreign-born citizens were more likely than native-born citizens to own their own homes in the Midwest and the West. However, in the Northeast native-born citizens were more likely than foreign-born citizens to own their own homes. In the South, there was no significant difference between the two groups. - Being married improves the chances of homeownership regardless of citizenship status. In 1996, the homeownership rate for married couple families was 83 percent for native-born citizens, 78 percent for foreign-born citizens and 42 percent for non-citizens. - The homeownership rate for native-born and foreign-born citizens was highest among 55-64 year-olds (82 percent and 79 percent) and lowest for the age group 35 years old and under (41 percent and 39 percent). - Foreign-born citizens of Hispanic origin were more likely to own a home than native-born citizens of Hispanic origin in 1996 (57 percent versus 48 percent). - Foreign-born citizens who entered this country before 1970 had a higher rate of homeownership, (77 percent), compared with a foreign-born citizens who entered in 1970 or later, (57 percent). - Among noncitizens, those who entered this country before 1970 also had a higher rate of homeownership (61 percent), compared with noncitizens who entered in 1970 or later, (29 percent). The report includes data on homeownership by citizenship, age of householder, family type, race and ethnicity, region and year of entry into the United States from 1994 to 1996. Data in the report are from the Current Population Survey. As in all surveys, the data are subject to sampling variability and other sources of error. The report can be found on the Census Bureau's web site at http://www.census.gov/hhes/www/homeown.html. Copies of the report are available from the Public Information Office's 24-hour Fax-on-Demand service on 1-888-206-6463, request Document Number 1244; or call 301-457-3030.-X-The Census Bureau--pre-eminent collector and provider of timely, relevant, and quality data about the people and economy of the United States. In over 100 surveys annually and 20 censuses a decade, evolving from the first census in 1790, the Census Bureau provides official information about America's people, businesses, industries and institutions.
