Real Estate Market Analysis

At TRF, we know that place matters. Understanding a place is critical to targeting investments that maximize impact. TRF has developed and refined highly-customizable real estate market analyses that are based on proven methodologies. For each analysis, in addition to an in-depth look at market data, TRF staff also spend significant time on-the-ground with local market experts, verifying the accuracy of how markets are characterized. These analyses can help clients develop strategies for rebuilding and stabilizing distressed real estate markets.

The following are some of the services we provide:

Estimating Low Food Access Areas and Market Viability

In 2011, TRF conducted a study to identify communities that have both the need for expanded healthy food options and the consumer demand sufficient to sustain an investment in healthy food retail. TRF’s study reveals that 24.6 million Americans live in Limited Supermarket Access (LSA) areas, or areas in which residents must travel longer distances to reach supermarkets, as compared to middle and upper income residents living in areas with similar population density and car ownership rates. Data from the LSA analysis is available for free for the entire nation through PolicyMap and through a simple-to-use interactive map on TRF’s website. The analysis was done as part of a larger effort from the CDFI Fund’s Financing Healthy Food Options training track provided by the Opportunity Finance Network.

Read the summary report to understand the analysis and read highlights or download the full report. To learn more about TRF's supermarket access data available on PolicyMap and for information on more customized research and data analysis, visit http://www.trfund.com/TRF-food-access-data.html. For more information on TRF's efforts to improve food access in underserved communities, visit http://www.trfund.com/TRF-food-access.html.

Using this analyses, TRF can help policymakers and investors on very localized analyses to increase understanding of the food access problem and guide appropriate interventions. The analysis builds on TRF's 2010 study estimating supermarket access for the continental United States.

Market Value Analysis (MVA)

The MVA is a proprietary tool that helps analyze and characterize local residential real estate market conditions to target investments. The MVA is a data-driven framework for restoring market viability in distressed urban real estate markets. It helps public and private investors understand how the market is performing at the census block group level.

Using Data and GIS to Target Neighborhood Stabilization Program Dollar s - Presentation at the 2009 PA Chapter of American Planning Association Annual Conference.

Using TRF’s MVA to Target the Acquisition of Vacant & Foreclosed Properties - Presentation at the Federal Reserve System's Community Affairs Officers Conference.

GIS tool at USC WebGIS Services.

Examples:

Commercial Market Value Analysis (CMVA)

Building upon the MVA, this tool help assess the vitality of commercial corridors. TRF uses public and private data sources to both locate and characterize various aspects of a city’s commercial areas such as the stability in the number of establishments within the area; the mix of commercial activity types; and surrounding market activity.

Example:

City of Baltimore

Foreclosure Analyses

TRF understands that home equity is many households’ single greatest asset, particularly households with lower incomes. As a result, TRF is committed to understanding the dynamics that undermine the value of home equity. Our analysis is designed to help find solutions to stem the rising tide of foreclosures.

Examples:

Mortgage Foreclosures in Pennsylvania
Mortgage Foreclosures in New Jersey
Estimating Predatory Lending: Lost Values
Targeting foreclosure services: diagnostic tools for planning the allocation of resources from HUD’s Neighborhoods Stabilization Program.

Community Amenities and Related Real Estate Analysis

TRF uses these same real estate analytical skills to explore topics often overlooked in such analyses. What impact do local schools have on the real estate market? What impact do other amenities like supermarkets have on a community? The interplay of community and real estate is a core competence of TRF Policy Solutions and a space where TRF seeks to find quantitative answers so we can understand a place and measure change over time.

Example:

Impact of Local School Quality on Neighborhood Home Prices

Questions? Contact PolicySolutions@trfund.com or call 215-574-5800.