Table 4.  Estimates of the Total Housing Inventory for the
                United States:  Third Quarter 1997 and 1996

(Estimates are in thousands and may not add to total, due to rounding)


                                    Third     Third    Standard
                                   quarter   quarter   error on  Standard     1997
Type                                 1997      1996      1997    error on   Percent
                                   estimate  estimate  estimate difference  of total

All housing units.................  115,804   114,534       237        336       100

  Occupied........................  102,433   101,120       246        348        88
    Owner occupied................   67,556    66,288       241        341        58
    Renter occupied...............   34,877    34,832       197        279        30

  Vacant..........................   13,371    13,414       131        186        12
    Year-round vacant.............   10,013    10,197       115        163         9
      For rent....................    3,018     3,080        64         91         3
      For sale only...............    1,062     1,119        38         55         1
      Rented or sold,
      awaiting occupancy..........      941       954        36         51         1
      Held off market.............    4,992     5,044        82        116         4
        For occasional use........    1,795     1,812        50         70         2
        Temporarily occupied
        by persons with
        usual residence elsewhere.      880       796        35         48         1
        For other reasons.........    2,317     2,436        56         81         2

    Seasonal vacant...............    3,358     3,217        68         95         3