According to the S&P/Case-Shiller Index, home values rose 2.2% nationwide, with all 20 tracked markets making month-to-month improvement. On an annual basis, 17 of the 20 Case-Shiller Index markets improved.

Despite the positive report, however, our enthusiasm for the May Case-Shiller Index should be tempered. This is because the index’s methodology is less-than-ideal for today’s Sedona home buyer.

Fall is one of the most visually appealing seasons in Brantford, and one you definitely don’t want to miss. With fall upon us it’s high time to get outside and be a part of all the natural beauty. Take the family and pets on an outdoor adventure, hiking through the West Brant Walking trails. These trails are woven throughout neighbourhoods all over the city but the ones in the West end are our personal favorites. Discover the local wildlife and get some outdoor exercise as you enjoy time in nature. Whether you like to hike, run or bike – these trails have something for people of all ages. The Munir Group will work with you through the entire process of selling a home or buying a home.

Want the peace of mind that the best is representing you?

There are three main reasons why :

1. The Case-Shiller Index tracks values for single-family homes only
2. The Case-Shiller Index is distorted by distressed, discounted home sales 
3. The Case-Shiller Index publishes on a 2-month lag

Perhaps even more important, though, is that the Case-Shiller Index ignores a basic tenet of the housing market — all real estate is local. It’s not possible for 20 cities to represent the U.S. housing market as a whole. Even more egregious is that the 20 markets tracked by the Case-Shiller Index don’t represent the country’s twenty most populated cities.

The Case-Shiller Index specifically excludes home sale data from Houston, Philadelphia, San Antonio and San Jose — four of the nation’s 10 most populated cities. Yet, the index does include data from cities such as Minneapolis, Minnesota and Tampa, Florida.

These two cities rank #48 and #55, respectively.

Furthermore, in its 20 tracked cities, the Case-Shiller Index still manages to fail as a reliable housing market barometer. This is because home values vary by zip code, by neighborhood, and by street, even. All 20 Case-Shiller Index cities showed gains in May, but there remains areas within each metropolitan area in which values outpaced the Case-Shiller Index findings, and areas in which values fell short.

The Case-Shiller Index provides broad, generalized housing market data and that works for an economist. For an active home buyer or seller, though, making smart real estate decisions requires having timely, relevant real estate data at-hand when it’s needed. 

For data like that, talk with a real estate agent.