The real estate market index

Abstract

The Real Estate Market Index (REMI) combines sales price, sales volume and days on market into a summary measure of market activity or liquidity. The REMI, which rises with price or volume and falls with days on market, is more sensitive to market sentiment than indices based on price alone, e.g., the Case-Schiller Index. The REMI is useful to people who want a measure of market liquidity. Data from over 19,000 sales that occurred between January 2000 and November 2009 in Mission Viejo, California illustrate the calculation, calibration and application of the REMI.