I never look at the percentages but I wish that they all were vacant. Not that I do not like the furnishings, it gives me full access to the home.

BTW how do you get that many vacants? Don't they trust you with there contents?

Here we bring furniture in!

I think it is because the vacant homes are less expensive then the occupied ones.

They trust me a little but not too much.                 

I don't know about any national statistics but about 25% of homes I have shown are vacant lately...Depending on the neighborhood some are closer to 50%.

Most of the properties I get calls for here in the San Francisco Bay Area are vacant.  I'm always surprised that there are so many vacant! Where has everyone gone?

Ann - I think everyone has gone to Mexico!  Which we are planning to do, soon.  I would say the vast percentage of the vacants here in my area are spec homes, at least it seems that way.

Terry Haugen - STAGE it RIGHT!

90% of the homes I inspect are furnished the other 10 are vacant for one reason or other, I've had an upswing in repo homes.

In my area of S.Florida I would say it's 50/50.

- Tchaka 

About 50-50 here.  Several builders overbuilt on spec homes.  Some offering bonus points to realtors to push them, a few going under.  Indications are that the situation is temporary, as this is still a growth area. Existing home prices are finally adjusting to recent realities, and that inventory is clearing somewhat with the bargains.  Sub-prime fallout yet to be felt much here.

Sub-prime fallout is running rampart in my area. Foreclosures used to take up 1 page, 1 day a week. Now its at least 3-4 pages, everyday! In most cases, nobody is showing up at the auctions because the properties were overpriced to begin with, so no bargains to be had.