The Census Bureau reported that the nation?EUR??,,????'???s rate of homeownership slipped from 67.2 percent in this year?EUR??,,????'???s first quarter to 66.9 percent in the second quarter, its lowest level since the fourth quarter of 1999, a result of foreclosures and continued uncertainty surrounding the housing market.

Homeownership stood at 67.2 percent in the second quarter of last year. Over the ensuing year, it actually rose in the Midwest ?EUR??,,????'??+ from 70.5 percent to 70.8 percent ?EUR??,,????'??+ while in the Northeast it fell slightly from 64.3 percent to 64.2 percent.

The worst declines ?EUR??,,????'??+ from 70 percent to 69.1 percent in the South and 62.5 percent to 61.4 percent in the West ?EUR??,,????'??+ occurred in regions with the highest foreclosures. This will continue to be an issue over the next several months with notices of default mounting in these regions.