Thurston apartment vacancy rate slips to 7.36 percent

Thurston County apartment vacancy rates weakened to 7.36 percent in the third quarter of the year, the third straight quarterly decline since a 6.56 percent rate in the fourth quarter of last year, according to new data released by Apartment Insights of Seattle.

Olympia had the weakest vacancy rate at 8.18 percent in the third quarter, while it was stronger in Tumwater at 6.39 percent, the data show.

"Thurston continues to languish," Apartment Insights principal Tom Cain said in a news release.

Rents showed a slight improvement in the county as a result of the weaker vacancy rate, falling $1 to $836 per month, or 99 cents per square foot.