Housing Market Data: Case-Shiller, FHFA, Census & More
Complete guide to housing data sources. Home prices, housing starts, mortgage rates, and real estate indicators from official sources.
Housing Market Data Landscape
Housing is a critical sector for the economy. Here's where to find the best data on prices, construction, sales, and affordability.
Home Price Indexes
S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller
IQ Score: 96 | Monthly | 1987-present
The gold standard for home price measurement.
Key Series:
- National Home Price Index: CSUSHPINSA
- 20-City Composite: SPCS20RSA
- 10-City Composite: SPCS10RSA
- Individual city indexes (e.g., SFXRSA for San Francisco)
Methodology:
- Repeat-sales approach (same homes over time)
- 3-month moving average
- 2-month reporting lag
FHFA House Price Index
IQ Score: 95 | Monthly | 1991-present
Federal Housing Finance Agency index.
Advantages over Case-Shiller:
- Broader geographic coverage (all states)
- Purchase-only version available
- Census division breakdowns
Key Series:
- USSTHPI: US House Price Index
- State-level indexes available
Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI)
IQ Score: 88 | Monthly | 2000-present
Private data but freely available.
Features:
- ZIP code level data
- Various home types (single-family, condo, etc.)
- More timely than Case-Shiller
Housing Construction
Census Bureau Housing Starts
IQ Score: 97 | Monthly | 1959-present
Leading indicator of housing activity.
Key Series:
- HOUST: Total housing starts
- HOUST1F: Single-family starts
- HOUST5F: 5+ unit starts
- PERMIT: Building permits
New Home Sales
IQ Score: 95 | Monthly | 1963-present
Sales of newly constructed homes.
Series: NHSUSS (New One Family Houses Sold)
Existing Home Sales
IQ Score: 94 | Monthly | 1999-present
From National Association of Realtors.
Series: EXHOSLUSM495S
Browse housing construction data →
Mortgage Data
Mortgage Rates
IQ Score: 96 | Weekly | 1971-present
Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey.
Key Series:
- MORTGAGE30US: 30-year fixed rate
- MORTGAGE15US: 15-year fixed rate
- MORTGAGE5US: 5/1 ARM rate
Mortgage Applications
IQ Score: 93 | Weekly
MBA Mortgage Applications Survey.
- Purchase index
- Refinance index
- Market composite
Mortgage Delinquencies
IQ Score: 94 | Quarterly
From Federal Reserve and MBA.
Affordability & Inventory
Housing Affordability Index
IQ Score: 92 | Monthly
NAR Affordability Index measures whether a typical family can qualify for a mortgage on a median-priced home.
Months' Supply of Homes
IQ Score: 93 | Monthly
Inventory divided by monthly sales rate. Key indicator of market conditions:
- <4 months: Seller's market
- 4-6 months: Balanced
- >6 months: Buyer's market
Rental Data
IQ Score: 89 | Monthly
- BLS CPI Rent component
- Zillow Observed Rent Index
- Census Rental Vacancy Survey
Regional Analysis
Best Sources by Region
- Metro Areas: Case-Shiller, Zillow
- States: FHFA HPI
- Census Divisions: Census Bureau
- ZIP Codes: Zillow, Redfin
Housing Data Timing
| Indicator | Release Lag | Revision |
|---|---|---|
| Building Permits | ~3 weeks | Moderate |
| Housing Starts | ~3 weeks | Moderate |
| New Home Sales | ~4 weeks | Significant |
| Case-Shiller | ~8 weeks | Minor |
| Existing Home Sales | ~3 weeks | Minor |
Pro Tips
- Use Case-Shiller for national trends: Best methodology
- Use FHFA for state/regional: Broader coverage
- Watch permits for leading signal: 6-9 month lead on construction
- Mind the seasonality: Housing is highly seasonal—use SA data
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