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Fin481-finalproject.docx
Fin 481 | Real Estate Practice
Final 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.
Students can choose one of the following topics.
Scoring:
a. a. Introduction: 10% i. Specify a distinct “Title”
b. ii. Do not forget to mention your names
c. iii. Introduce the research question (what are you examining, what is your focus, etc.)
d. iv. Define the main terms (take help from sources beyond what is listed below)
e.
a. 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
b. ii. Introduce the data source: what is the organization’s name, who they are, etc.
c. iii. Describe your data: What does it represent, the source of data, frequency, units and time periods
d. iv. Standardize the data, if you think it is a better way to analyze it
e. v. Provide correlation between two data series, if applicable
f. vi. Plot the two data series
g. vii. Compare and discuss
h.
a. c. Summary: 10% i. Summarize your main findings
b. ii. Discuss what is obvious and what you find perplexing
c.
a. d. Report: 50% i. Prepare a report following the same structure as above (a-c)
b. ii. Do not plagiarize!! Include citations for all opinions or insights that are not yours.
c. iii. Format the report professionally. Add a cover page, headings and sections such as “References” and “Appendix” if applicable.
d. iv. The report must be single-spaced, in Times New Roman font with size 12.
e. v. Maximum report size (of the main body) is 4. The main body includes illustrations and excludes the cover page, references and appendix sections.
f.
Fin 481 | Real Estate Practice
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 2017; 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.
Topic:
Homeownership rate in the U.S.: ‘South’ versus any other region in the U.S.
http://www.census.gov/housing/hvs/data/histtabs.html
