Brief Overall Description of the Dataset:
Provide a combination of reliable tools, resources, and deep understanding on over 4.5 million commercial real estate properties in today’s market. Find relevant information, meet the right people, and make the deals that are critical to your success. Claim to have “built and maintained the industry’s most comprehensive database of commercial real estate information.” Services provided includes information about space available for lease, comparable sales information, tenant information, information about properties for sale, Internet marketing services, analytical capabilities, information for clients' Websites, information about industry professionals and their business relationships, data integration and industry news.
Arlington Economic Development has a subscription for the data. They will provide the data through the FTP site.
Link: https://www.costar.com/
Date Inventory Completed: 7/23/2015
Screening
- Is the data collected opinion-based?
- Is the data collection recurring (must be collected at least annually)?
- Is there data available for 2013?
- Is the data collected at the property or housing unit level?
- Can we access the data by August 15th?
Purpose
What is the purpose of the organization collecting the data?
CoStar is a provider of information, analytics and marketing services to the commercial real estate industry in the United States and United Kingdom.
Why is it collected and how does the organization use it?
“By providing our customers with simple and intuitive tools, timely and reliable information, and access to the largest network of real estate professionals, we provide what they need to make smart, confident decisions, both today and in the future.”
Who else uses the data?
Businesses, local government, researchers
Who do they sell the data to?
Unknown
Method
What is the data collection method?
Unknown
What is the type of data collected?
Unknown
If designed, who created the questions?
What is the raw source of the collected data (prior to any aggregation)?
Unknown
Description
What is the general topic of the data (1-2 words)?
Commercial Property
What are the earliest and latest dates for which data is available?
Unknown
Is data collected and available periodically?
Unknown
How soon after a reference period ends can a data source be prepared and provided?
Unknown
Selectivity
What is the universe (e.g., population) that the data represents?
Commercial property in the US and UK
Accessibility
- How is the data accessed?
Through CoStar software/applications
- Is it open data?
No
Any legal, regulatory, or administrative restrictions on accessing the data source?
Presumably, but extent unknown
Cost? - One time or annual or project based payment?
Unknown, must all representative
Arlington Economic Development has subscription and will provide data for free
Does this dataset appear to meet our needs for the Census study? Yes
Full Inventory
Description
- Features
- What is the temporal nature of the data: longitudinal, time-series, or one time point?
Longitudinal
- Geospatial? If Yes, at what level?
Address
Metadata
- Is there information available to assess the transparency and soundness of the methods to gather the data for our purposes?
Not freely on the website
- Is there a description of each variable in the source along with their valid values?
No
- Are there unique IDs for unique elements that can be used for linking data?
Unknown
- Is there a data dictionary or codebook?
No
Selectivity
What unit is represented at the record level of the data source?
Commercial property
Does this universe match the stated intentions for the data collection? If not, what has been included or excluded and why?
Unknown
What is the sampling technique used (if applicable)?
What was the coverage?
Unknown
Stability/Coherence
- Were there any changes to the universe of data being captured (including geographical areas covered) and if so what were they?
Unknown
- Were there any changes in the data capture method and if so what were they?
Unknown
“We've continually refined, transformed, and perfected our approach to our business, creating a language that has become standard in our industry, for our customers, and even our competitors.”
- Were there any changes in the sources of data and if so what were they?
Unknown
Accuracy
- Any known sources of error?
Unknown
- Describe any quality control checks performed by the data’s owner.
“Our ability to deliver accurate and trusted information to our clients has won us the business of virtually all the leading commercial real estate firms throughout the U.S. and U.K. Research associates verify the accuracy of hundreds of details on the properties in CoStar's database. They interview brokers to owners and property managers to make sure our data is up-to-date, trusted and reliable.”
Accessibility
- Any records or fields collected, but not included in data source, such as for confidentiality reasons)?
Unknown
- Is there a subset of variables and/or data that is must be obtained through a separate process? If yes, is there a separate legal, regulatory, or administrative restrictions on accessing the data source? Cost? - One time or annual or project based payment?
Unknown
Privacy and security
- Was consent given by participant? If so, how was consent given?
Unknown
- Are there legal limitations or restrictions on the use of the data?
None Stated
- What confidentiality policies does the source have?
https://www.costar.com/about/privacy-policy
https://www.costar.com/about/terms-conditions
Research
- What research has been done with this dataset? (e.g., impact of policies, predictors of student success)
Market conditions, trends, etc
- Include any links to research if provided:
https://www.costar.com/costar-news
- List any other data use notes provided by the supplier.
Gaps/Concerns
- Feasibility - can all jurisdiction levels provide the data (if applicable)?
- Data ownership - a lack of clarity in legal guidance stemming from a lack of clarity with who owns digital data?
- Data collection authority - what data is reasonably private and what constitutes unwarranted intrusion?
- Describe any other notes you have or any gaps/concerns you see with this dataset: