Numbers, Numbers, Numbers-February's Resource Post

Numbers, Numbers, Numbers!!

In a previous incarnation, I was a numbers guy. That meant I crunched ‘em, munched ‘em, and spit out a whole slew of reports, analyses, and, yes, even the odd full-color chart from time to time. Sometimes, after combining wine-tasting with work, the graphics for those charts were VERY odd, indeed.

Now, I’m still a numbers guy, but as a Real Estate Rebel I tend to focus on the deal or the project at hand, and I’m less willing to spend a lot of time creating formulas and forecasting profitability curves (in fact, I get a little frisson just thinking about it…I’m not sure if that’s fear of wasted energy or some sweet nostalgia…). And investing, is after all, a numbers game.

BUT, I’m willing to let somebody else do the real digging and delving and Excel-sheeting, while I read the comic pages of the SF Chronicle and drink a cup of coffee and glance at their blogs. In the spirit of openness I mentioned a few postings ago, here’s a brief, non-comprehensive, list of blog resources to get your number-crunching fill.

ALWAYS REMEMBER: Read Rebelliously!! Form your own opinions, because in the words of Mark Twain, “There’s lies, damn lies, and then there’s statistics”. Often, sites are managed by Real Estate agents, and while they’re written in good faith, I tend to stick to sites that have reasonable explanations of the criteria/methodology/sources for their reports.

For some hard-core graphics of pricing trends, check out http://blog.redfin.com/sfbay/, and no, you’re not looking at roller-coaster schematics. Welcome to the wild ride that is real estate investing…

For a decent snap-shot of home prices in the SF Bay Area, http://www.lubasf.com/blog/, puts out a monthly report. The report is pulled from MLS sources, so keep in mind that not every development or property goes through that channel. And short sales are under-represented.

And for the broader, more national scope, I like folks over at http://blog.altosresearch.com/, although they’re a little thin on SF Real Estate data on the blog, having a wider focus.

Alright, my coffee’s getting cold and Garfield doesn’t read himself, so I’ll see you all next week.

STAY REBELLIOUS!!

-Larry