Brief Overall Description of the Dataset:
Redfin is a residential real estate company that provides an online real estate database and brokerage services. Included in the database are all “MLS listings unless the seller requests that his listing not be published to the Internet. If a site is not run by a broker, it displays a partial set of listings, obtained through side-deals with individual brokers.” Also included are foreclosure and for-sale-by-owner. The data shown includes MLS data (i.e. square footage and number of homes) alongside of historical data (past selling and prices).
Link: https://www.redfin.com/
Date Inventory Completed: 5/22/2015
Screening
- Is the data collected opinion-based?
- Is the data collection recurring (must be collected at least annually)?
- Is there data available for 2013?
- s 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?
Redfin a residential real estate company that provides an online real estate database and brokerage services.
Why is it collected and how does the organization use it?
As a brokerage firm, the data they collect is used to help the company advertise and they makes money when users buy or sell homes with its real estate agents.
Who else uses the data?
Citizens, real estate agents
Who do they sell the data to?
None
Description
- What is the general topic of the data (1-2 words)?
Property, real estate
What are the earliest and latest dates for which data is available?
Only current listings are available for direct viewing and downloading.
Is data collected and available periodically?
Yes
How soon after a reference period ends can a data source be prepared and provided?
MLS listings updated every 15-30 minutes
Selectivity
What is the universe (e.g., population) that the data represents?
The housing markets Redfin operates in.
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?
No
Any legal, regulatory, or administrative restrictions on accessing the data source?
Cost? - One time or annual or project based payment?
N/A
Does this dataset appear to meet our needs for the Census study? No
Explanation:
It is against the term of use to “gather, or attempt to gather, by any automated means, including ‘screen scraping’ or ‘database scraping’”, data on the website. Data is not available to buy. Can be used to cross check data for individual properties.