The national homeownership rate continued its downward trend in 2014 as the share of U.S. renter households reached its highest level in 20 years, according to the annual State of the Nation's Housing report by the Joint Center for Housing Studies at Harvard University. A record number of U.S. renters are also facing housing cost burdens, the new research showed.
For the 10th straight year, the national homeownership rate dropped in 2014, falling to 64.5 percent. The rate ticked down to an even lower 63.7 percent in the first quarter of 2015.
The number of U.S. owner-occupied households fell for the eighth consecutive year in 2014, dropping by 233,000.
"Perhaps the most telling indicator of the state of the nation's housing is the drop in the homeownership rate to just 64.5 percent last year," the Joint Center for Housing Studies's Managing Director Chris Herbert said in a statement. "This erases nearly all of the increase from the previous two decades. In fact, the number of homeowners fell for the eighth straight year, and the trend does not appear to be abating."
All 14 Illinois metro areas saw their unemployment rates tick down in May compared to one year ago, according to the state's Department of Employment Security.
All 14 Illinois metro areas saw their unemployment rates tick down compared to one year ago, according to the state's Department of Employment Security.
Year-over-year unemployment rates in all 102 Illinois counties were down for the third consecutive month in August, the Illinois Department of Employment Security announced Thursday.
Despite areas of improvement, however, the report found that homeownership rates are still trending downward, low-income households face persistent challenges finding affordable housing and millions of Americans continue to grapple with high housing costs.
For the second consecutive month, the May unemployment rate ticked down in all 12 Illinois metro areas, the Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES) announced Thursday.
Eight of the 12 metropolitan areas in the state had lower unemployment rates in February compared to the same time in 2013, the Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES) announced Thursday.
Most Illinois metropolitan areas saw their unemployment rates rise in December compared to the same time in 2012, the Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES) said on Thursday.
Local unemployment rates fell in seven of 12 Illinois metro areas in July, according to preliminary data released Thursday by the Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES).
The national homeownership rate continued its downward trend in 2014 as the share of U.S. renter households reached its highest level in 20 years, according to the annual 
The U.S. housing industry saw some progress in 2013 due in part to increased housing construction as well as rising home prices and sales, according to the annual 