The Case-Shiller Index is the product of researchers Karl Case and Robert Shiller. The data in the index is maintained by Standard and Poor’s (aka “S&P”), calculated from are repeat-sales house prices across the United States. There are multiple Case-Shiller indices including composites of 10 and 20 cities and those individual cities. The National Case-Shiller index is the most commonly cited figure.

Portland, Oregon happens to be one of those 20 cities that make up the composite index, and since we’re based in Portland, we pay special attention to this figure. This figure can make a nice counter weight to all of the anecdotal observations about Portland’s housing market you’d be likely to hear in any coffee shop here. As far as using it for a “timing tool,” we simply can’t speak to that- we don’t invest in individual real estate properties, so that’s not area of expertise of ours. What we do know about the Portland Case-Shiller index is that it speaks volumes to the health of the regional economy of the Pacific Northwest.