Comments on: Which Housing Stats to Trust?

By: Jonathan Blackwell

Jonathan Blackwell — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 22:31:14 +0000

We appreciate this info from a mortgage perspective as well. The more I can learn about housing trends the better IMO.

By: Anwell Tsai

Anwell Tsai — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 20:34:18 +0000

Sure, i’ll write about a few other indexes in next week’s blog. If anyone has an index they like, please post it here.

By: Dan

Dan — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 19:50:47 +0000

Just an FYI: IAS360 House Price Index for September data will be released on Tuesday, November 11th. You can check it out by visiting: http://www.iasreo.com/ias360update.html

Quick tidbit, the IAS360 comes out much earlier than Case Shiller, that is one of the key benefits of this index.

By: hearing aids

hearing aids — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 19:21:43 +0000

I second to “Thank you very much for making this post. I believe that many people do not understand how the real estate indices work nor do they understand the inherent inaccuaracies of each index. Some of these overstate changes in pricing and others under state changes in pricing.”

By: Joshua Dorkin

Joshua Dorkin — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 19:20:11 +0000

The list compilation would be a great idea, Anwell. Maybe you could do that for next week?

By: Anwell Tsai

Anwell Tsai — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 17:59:22 +0000

I think creating a forum or a series of posts on different indexes and their methodologies would be quite interesting. Each index gives a different perspective on data and understanding how they are compiled is critical.

Thanks Dan for the comment about the IAS360 Price Index. Maybe we should compile a list of indexes that people find useful. There are quite a few out there.

By: Dan

Dan — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 17:39:07 +0000

The IAS360 House Price Index is the leading house price index in my opinion: http://www.iasreo.com/ias360update.html

It is a comprehensive housing index tracking monthly change in the median sales price of detached single-family residences across the U.S. The index, based on all arms-length transactions, tracks data at a “neighborhood” level, which is then rolled up to report on the changes in 360 counties, nine census divisions, four regions, and the nation overall. The IAS360 House Price Index is delivered on a monthly basis.

By: Houston homes for sale

Houston homes for sale — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 16:38:28 +0000

Anwell Tsai,

Thank you very much for making this post. I believe that many people do not understand how the real estate indices work nor do they understand the inherent inaccuaracies of each index. Some of these overstate changes in pricing and others under state changes in pricing.

I think that a couple of us that understand these indices should get together and write a post or series of posts on how to analyze these indices. This could possible be of great use to the public or at least of value to real estate professionals.

I am just amazed at the number of real estate agents that do not understand the problems with using the Average home sale price to gauge price changes.