During the last decade, the Nation witnessed a decline in homeownership rates, the first such decline since the 1930's. The 1989 U.S. homeownership rate was 64 percent; in 1980, 66 percent owned their own homes. This brief uses findings from the Current Population Survey/Housing Vacancy Survey (CPS/HVS) to study this decline. Homeownership data by State became available in 1984 from the CPS/HVS. Metropolitan area data became available beginning in 1986. Homeownership data by age of householder became available in 1982.