VT Census Case Studies : Housing Virginia

Created and last modified by molfe on 02 Jan 2016

Brief Overall Description of the Dataset:

The Housing Virginia dataset looks at housing prices, home values, demographics and economics to improve the affordable housing market in Virginia. This dataset is available to homeowners, policy-makers and researchers across the Commonwealth looking to expand the affordable housing market and implement better policies in areas that need more affordable housing. This data is collected from mostly outside sources, including the ACS, Bureau of Labor Statistics and Virginia Association of Realtors.

Link: http://www.housingvirginia.org/sourcebook.aspx

Date Inventory Completed: 05/26/2015

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?

The purpose of this data source is to collect information about the housing market and demographics in Virginia, so that the proper amount of affordable housing is available for the current market.

  • Why is it collected and how does the organization use it?

This data is given to policy makers and housing advocates to help in the planning and implementing of affordable housing policy and construction.

  • Who else uses the data?

Policy-makers, citizens and others interested in affordable housing

  • Who do they sell the data to?

Policy-makers, citizens, researchers


Method

  • What is the data collection method? 

This dataset is a collection of information from outside sources.

  • What is the type of data collected? 

Administrative data

  • If designed, who created the questions?

  • What is the raw source of the collected data (prior to any aggregation)? 

Local jurisdictions, American Community Survey, Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Transit Database, Weldon Center, Virginia Association of Realtors


Description

  • What is the general topic of the data (1-2 words)?

Affordable housing

  • What are the earliest and latest dates for which data is available?

Unsure;  Only current listings are available for direct viewing and downloading.

  • Is data collected and available periodically?

Monthy

  • How soon after a reference period ends can a data source be prepared and provided? 

Appears to be on a few month lag


Selectivity

  • What is the universe (e.g., population) that the data represents?

Properties in Virginia


Accessibility

  • How is the data accessed? 

Data is not available to buy nor to scrape online. Can download current data at 500 at time if registered.

  • Is it open data?

Yes,  but it is not currently available on the website, you must contact directly

  • Any legal, regulatory, or administrative restrictions on accessing the data source?

“The data contained in SOURCEBOOK is intended for informational, educational and research uses. The information may not be used for commercial purposes or re-marketed. Any reproduction and distribution of this information must clearly identify Housing Virginia and SOURCEBOOK as the provider of the information”

  • Cost? - One time or annual or project based payment?

No cost

Does this dataset appear to meet our needs for the Census study? YES

Full Inventory

Description

  • What is the general contents of the data source?

Building permits, mortgage data, building prices, income

  • Features
    • What is the temporal nature of the data: longitudinal, time-series, or one time point?

Time-series

    • Geospatial? If Yes, at what level?

By county

  • What is the scope of the records?

Virginia


Metadata

  • Is there information available to assess the transparency and soundness of the methods to gather the data for our purposes?

Yes, all sources are given

  • Is there a description of each variable in the source along with their valid values?

Yes, sources for these variables are given as well

  • Are there unique IDs for unique elements that can be used for linking data?

County names

  • Is there a data dictionary or codebook?

No

 

Selectivity

  • What unit is represented at the record level of the data source? 

Property

  • Does this universe match the stated intentions for the data collection? If not, what has been included or excluded and why?

Uknown

  • What is the sampling technique used (if applicable)? 

None listed

  • What was the coverage?

None listed


Stability/Coherence

  • Were there any changes to the universe of data being captured (including geographical areas covered) and if so what were they?

No

  • Were there any changes in the data capture method and if so what were they? (e.g., revised questions, data collection mode, classification categories, algorithms for social media data)

No

  • Were there any changes in the sources of data and if so what were they? 

No

 

Accuracy

  • Any known sources of error?

None listed

  • Describe any quality control checks performed by the data’s owner.

None listed

 

Accessibility

  • Any records or fields collected, but not included in data source, such as for confidentiality reasons)? 

None listed

  • Is there a subset of variables and/or data that is must be obtained through a separate process? (e.g. state level data openly available, but one must apply to get census tract)? 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?

None listed

 

Privacy and security

  • Was consent given by participant? If so, how was consent given?

Does not deal with PII, all information was properly acquired

  • Are there legal limitations or restrictions on the use of the data? 

No

  • What confidentiality policies does the source have? 

None listed

 

Research

  • What research has been done with this dataset?

Most research has been in relation to housing affordability in Virginia and the United States and how other areas of question are impacted by this, such as green building, or schools.

  • Include any links to research if provided:

Below is a link to their research database which has links to several studies done with their data. http://www.housingvirginia.org/research-va-national.aspx

  • 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: