The Census Bureau figures showed that the percentage of vacant homes available for sale during the second quarter of this year was 2.8%. This is a little less than the previous quarter's figure and is still near record highs.

The figure includes homes which were empty and on the market from April through June but excludes rental properties. The vacancy rate hit a record high of 2.9% in the first quarter of 2008. It was 2.6% during the same period last year.

The South had the highest vacancy rate at 3.2% and the Northeast had the lowest at 1.9%. The West had the largest year-over-year jump, to 2.8% from 2.3%.