Not Computed - A10051_005 - Selected Monthly Owner Costs as a Percentage of Household Income in the Past 12 Months for Housing Units Without a Mortgage - Social Explorer Tables: ACS 2009 (1-Year Estimates) (SE) - Survey ACS 2009 (1-Year Estimates)

Excerpt from:	Social Explorer; U.S. Census Bureau; American Community Survey 2009 Summary File: Technical Documentation.
	ACS 2009-1yr Summary File: Technical Documentation -> Appendix A. Supplemental Documentation -> 2009 Subject Definitions -> Housing Variables -> Selected Monthly Owner Costs as a Percentage of Household Income

Selected Monthly Owner Costs as a Percentage of Household Income

The information on selected monthly owner costs as a percentage of household income is the computed ratio of selected monthly owner costs to monthly household income. The ratio was computed separately for each unit and rounded to the nearest whole percentage. The data are tabulated only for owner-occupied units.

Separate distributions are often shown for units "with a mortgage" and for units "not mortgaged." Units occupied by households reporting no income or a net loss are included in the ''not computed" category. (For more information, see the discussion under "Selected Monthly Owner Costs.")

Selected monthly owner costs as a percentage of household income provide information on the monthly housing cost expenses for owners. The information offers an excellent measure of housing affordability and excessive shelter costs. The data also serve to aid in the development of housing programs to meet the needs of people at different economic levels.

Median Selected Monthly Owner Costs as a Percentage of Household Income

This measure divides the selected monthly owner costs as a percentage of household income distribution into two equal parts: one-half of the cases falling below the median selected monthly owner costs as a percentage of household income and one-half above the median. Median selected monthly owner costs as a percentage of household income is computed on the basis of a standard distribution. (See the "Standard Distributions" section under "Appendix A".) Median selected monthly owner costs as a percentage of household income is rounded to the nearest tenth. (For more information on medians, see "Derived Measures".)

Comparability

Caution should be used when comparing selected monthly owner costs as a percentage of household income data between the American Community Survey and Census 2000. For Census 2000, tables for both total owner-occupied housing units and specified owner-occupied housing units were released, thus comparisons can be made only when comparing the same universes between the two data sets. Additionally, for Census 2000 tables with full distributions were released for total owner-occupied housing units but medians were not shown.

Excerpt from:	Social Explorer; U.S. Census Bureau; American Community Survey 2009 Summary File: Technical Documentation.
	ACS 2009-1yr Summary File: Technical Documentation -> Appendix A. Supplemental Documentation -> 2009 Subject Definitions -> Housing Variables -> Mortgage Payment

Mortgage Payment

The data on mortgage payment were obtained from Housing Question 19b in the 2009 American Community Survey. The question was asked at owner-occupied units that have a mortgage, deed of trust, or similar debt; or contract to purchase. The question provides the regular monthly amount required to be paid to the lender for the first mortgage (deed of trust, contract to purchase, or similar debt) on the property. Amounts are included even if the payments are delinquent or paid by someone else. The amounts reported are included in the computation of "Selected Monthly Owner Costs" and "Selected Monthly Owner Costs as a Percentage of Household Income" for units with a mortgage.

The amounts reported include everything paid to the lender including principal and interest payments, real estate taxes, fire, hazard, and flood insurance payments, and mortgage insurance premiums. Separate questions determine whether real estate taxes and fire, hazard, and flood insurance payments are included in the mortgage payment to the lender. This makes it possible to avoid counting these components twice in the computation of Selected Monthly Owner Costs.

Mortgage payment provides information on the monthly housing cost expenses for owners with a mortgage. When the data is used in conjunction with income data, the information offers an excellent measure of housing affordability and excessive shelter costs. The data also serve to aid in the development of housing programs aimed to meet the needs of people at different economic levels.

Question/Concept History

Since 1996, the American Community Survey questions have been the same.

Comparability

Data on mortgage payment in the American Community Survey can be compared to previous ACS and Census 2000 mortgage payment data. For Census 2000, tables for both total owner-occupied housing units and specified owner-occupied housing units were released, thus comparisons can be made only when comparing the same universes between the two data sets.