Project
Objective: To compare two series of real estate related data over time and draw inferences about them individually, make comparison across the series and discuss the possible cycles and causes in those series. Students learn about the types of data available and their sources so as to develop a first-hand insight about the real estate cycles.
Scoring
Rubics:
a. Introduction: 10%.
i. Specify a distinct “Title”
ii. Do not forget to mention your names
iii. Introduce the research question (what are you examining, what is your focus, etc.)
iv. Define the main terms (take help from sources beyond what is listed below)
b. Body: 30%
i. Provide summary statistics of each data series (mean, median, standard deviation) of the level or return data as makes sense to you
ii. Introduce the data source: what is the organization’s name, who they are, etc.
iii. Describe your data: What does it represent, the source of data, frequency, units and time periods
iv. Standardize the data, if you think it is a better way to analyze it
v. Provide correlation between two data series, if applicable
vi. Plot the two data series vii. Compare and discuss
c. Summary: 10%
i. Summarize your main findings ii. Discuss what is obvious and what you find perplexing d. Report: 50% i. Prepare a report following the same structure as above (a-c)
ii. Do not plagiarize!! Include citations for all opinions or insights that are not yours.
iii. Format the report professionally. Add a cover page, headings and sections such as “References” and “Appendix” if applicable.
iv. The report must be single-spaced, in Times New Roman font with size 12.
v. Maximum report size (of the main body) is 4. The main body includes illustrations and excludes the cover page, references and appendix sections
List of Topics
You are free to take a specific ‘spin’ on your topic as long as your topic is related to the broader theme mentioned below. Try to maximize the length of your data over time based on its availability. Although the range of data (mentioned below) may be specified in annual ranges, you should use the data at maximum possible frequency (e.g. monthly or quarterly data available between 1978 and 2021; whatever applies).
In the following list, web links are provided to help you locate the data sources. However, once you click on the link, the exact source of the data may not be ‘perfectly obvious’ to you. You may need to identify the right data source. If it seems like a challenge; face it and overcome it. Describe your challenge and how you overcame it in your report.
1. Characteristics of New Houses Sold: Conventional (loan) versus Cash: 1978-2021
http://www.census.gov/construction/chars/sold.html
2. Moody’s Price Index: Apartments versus Retail properties
http://www.rcanalytics.com/Public/rca_indices.aspx
3. Building Permit (Monthly): Single Family versus Multifamily (5+ units)
http://recenter.tamu.edu/data/bp/bps/st00.asp
4. Case Shiller Index: New York versus Miami FL
http://www.standardandpoors.com/indices/sp-case-shiller-home-price-indices/en/us/?indexId=spusa-cashpidff– p-us—-
5. Homeownership rate in the U.S.: ‘South’ versus any other region in the U.S.
http://www.census.gov/housing/hvs/data/histtabs.html
6. Vacancy rate: Homeowner versus Renter
http://www.census.gov/housing/hvs/data/histtabs.html
7. Value added by Real Estate to National GDP: “real Estate and Rental and Leasing” versus “information”: 1947-2021
http://www.bea.gov/industry/gdpbyind_data.htm
The data is broken into two files: 1947-1997; 1998-2021
8. REIT Index: Apartments versus Manufactured Homes
http://www.reit.com/DataAndResearch/IndexData/FNUS-Historical-Data.aspx
9. Building Permits: Single-family versus Multifamily
http://www.census.gov/econ/construction.html
10. Housing Inventory: Owner Occupied versus Renter Occupied
http://www.census.gov/housing/hvs/data/histtabs.htm
11. Asking Rent versus Asking Sale Price
http://www.census.gov/housing/hvs/data/histtabs.html
12. List price: Georgia versus California
http://www.zillow.com/local-info (Click on “More Metrics” option)
13. Sale Price: Single-family versus Condominiums
http://www.zillow.com/local-info (use the “Home Type” Filter)
14. Rent: Single-family versus Co-Op (multifamily)
http://www.zillow.com/local-info (use the “Home Type” Filter)
15. Total Homes Sold: Single-family versus Co-Op (multifamily)
http://www.zillow.com/local-info (use the “Home Type” Filter)
16. Price Per square foot: 1 bedroom versus 3 bedrooms
http://www.zillow.com/local-info/
• Select “Sale Price/ Sq Ft ($)”
• Use “No. of Bedrooms” filter to differentiate between “1 bedroom” and “3 bedroom” units
17. Housing opportunity Index: Atlanta versus another market
http://www.nahb.org/reference_list.aspx?sectionID=135
Compare Atlanta to one of the following Metros:
• Austin TX, San Francisco, New York, Tampa FL
18. Online Search on “Real Estate” : Atlanta versus another Market
http://www.google.com/insights/search
• Use “real estate” as the search term
• Compare by “locations”; compare between Atlanta and any other market of your choice
• You need to login to your Google (Gmail) account to download the data in *.csv format. If you do not have a Gmail account, create one.
19. Online Search on “mortgage” : USA versus another country
http://www.google.com/insights/search
• Use “mortgage” as the search term
• Compare by “locations”; compare between USA and any other country of your choice
• You need to login to your Google (Gmail) account to download the data in *.csv format. If you do not have a Gmail account, create one.
20. Online Search on “foreclosure” : California versus another state
http://www.google.com/insights/search
• Use “foreclosure” as the search term
• Compare by “locations”; compare between California and any other state of your choice
• You need to login to your Google (Gmail) account to download the data in *.csv format. If you do not have a Gmail account, create one.
