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Editorial Policy

This page explains how USPropertyStats selects, verifies, updates, and corrects housing market data.

Data Source Selection

We only use data from authoritative sources. A source qualifies as authoritative if it meets ALL of these criteria:

  • Published by a federal government agency, established industry organization, or recognized research firm
  • Data is collected and verified through documented methodology
  • Historical data is publicly accessible for comparison and trend analysis
  • Data is updated regularly on a published schedule
  • The source has no financial incentive to skew data in any direction

Approved Data Sources

USPropertyStats uses data exclusively from these sources:

Federal agencies: US Census Bureau, FHFA (Federal Housing Finance Agency), HUD (Department of Housing and Urban Development), BLS (Bureau of Labor Statistics), Federal Reserve System, IRS (Internal Revenue Service)

Industry organizations: NAR (National Association of Realtors), NAHB (National Association of Home Builders), Freddie Mac (Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation), Fannie Mae (Federal National Mortgage Association), Mortgage Bankers Association

Private data specialists: Redfin, Zillow Research, CoreLogic, ATTOM Data Solutions, S&P Dow Jones Indices (Case-Shiller Index)

Think tanks and research institutions: Urban Institute, Joint Center for Housing Studies (Harvard), Pew Research Center, Tax Foundation

We do not use Wikipedia, social media, unverified blogs, forums, or secondary news reporting as primary sources for statistics.

Data Verification Process

Before publishing any statistic, we verify it through these steps:

  1. Confirm the data comes from an approved source (see list above)
  2. Check the data release date and confirm it’s the most recent available
  3. If multiple sources report the same metric, we note any differences and explain why they exist (methodology, timing, geographic scope)
  4. Confirm the exact data point matches the source document, not a summary or interpretation
  5. Link directly to the source page so readers can verify independently
  6. Document the data period, units, and any important caveats (seasonally adjusted, annualized rate, etc.)

Data Freshness Standards

We maintain these freshness standards across the site:

  • Monthly economic data (mortgage rates, housing starts, permits): updated within 2 weeks of release
  • Quarterly data (home sales, prices, affordability): updated within 3 weeks of release
  • Annual data (homeownership rates, income, demographics): updated within 4 weeks of release
  • Data older than 12 months is flagged in the article with language like “as of [date]” or “most recent data available”

If new data is released and contradicts our existing article, we update the article within 48 hours and note the update date at the bottom of the page.

Update Cadence

Articles are refreshed on this schedule:

  • Housing market overview articles: quarterly (when NAR monthly data is released)
  • State and city profile pages: quarterly
  • Forecast and prediction articles: monthly (as forecasters update their outlooks)
  • Historical or evergreen data articles (mortgage rate history, median prices by decade): annually
  • Articles flagged with “Last Updated” dates for reader transparency

Corrections Policy

If you identify an error, please contact us immediately. We correct all errors within 24 hours and add a correction note at the bottom of the article describing what was wrong and what was fixed. We do not hide corrections or pretend errors didn’t happen.

Types of errors we correct:

  • Incorrect numbers (typo, wrong figure from source)
  • Outdated data (newer data has been released)
  • Broken source links
  • Misattribution of data to wrong source
  • Calculation errors (e.g., incorrect percentage change)
  • Factual errors in interpretation

How We Present Data

Every article on USPropertyStats follows these presentation standards:

  • Primary data appears in structured tables with clear column headers, row labels, and source attribution
  • Every numerical claim includes a hyperlink to the original source page (not the homepage)
  • Data is presented with context: year-over-year changes, historical comparisons, regional breakdowns
  • We distinguish between observed data (what happened) and forecasts (what experts predict)
  • Forecasts are attributed to specific organizations with dates
  • When sources disagree, we present both figures and explain the methodology difference

What We Don’t Do

  • We don’t fabricate or estimate data when official figures aren’t available; we note the gap instead
  • We don’t cherry-pick data to support a narrative; we present full datasets
  • We don’t present opinion as fact; analysis is clearly labeled as interpretation
  • We don’t make financial, legal, or investment recommendations
  • We don’t accept paid placement or sponsored content
  • We don’t modify source data; we present it as published
  • We don’t use data we can’t independently verify

Cross-Checking Multiple Sources

When different sources report similar metrics with different numbers, we include both. For example, NAR reports median home prices, but so does Zillow and Redfin. Their methodologies differ (transaction-based vs. estimated vs. listing-based), so the numbers won’t match exactly. We explain these differences in the article so readers understand why the figures vary.

Attribution and Linking

Every fact on USPropertyStats is attributed to its source through inline hyperlinks. We link to the specific data page or report, not the homepage. If a source requires navigating through multiple pages to find the data, we link to the landing page where the data is accessible.

Transparency About AI Assistance

USPropertyStats uses AI tools to help organize, structure, and present data. AI does not generate statistics or make editorial decisions about what data to include. A human editor verifies every number before publication and ensures all sourcing is accurate and transparent.

Conflicts of Interest

USPropertyStats has no financial relationships with real estate brokers, mortgage lenders, home builders, or property management companies. We don’t sell homes, originate mortgages, or collect leads. We present data for informational purposes only. We don’t receive payments for positive or negative coverage of any organization or region.

Feedback and Questions

If you have questions about our sources, methodology, update schedule, or editorial standards, please contact us. We’re happy to explain our process.