Melissa Jonas was recently appointed as the Director for Metrostudy’s Mid-Atlantic region. This region includes Virginia, Maryland, and West Virginia.

Melissa joined Metrostudy in 1999, helping to establish research operations in Charlotte, NC as the research manager. In 2002, the opportunity to start research operations in Northern Virginia brought Melissa back to her roots, as she grew up in Chantilly, VA. Melissa managed research operations for Northern Virginia until 2012. Her experience gives her a strong understanding of Metrostudy’s methodology and product. As Director, Melissa oversees operations and client relationships for the region.

Melissa attended the Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology, and then earned her bachelors and masters degrees from the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, VA. Melissa has served as a Planning Commissioner for the Town of Herndon since 2010, addressing land use issues including downtown redevelopment and the redevelopment of the coming Metro station area. She previously served on a Fairfax County Area Plan Review Task Force reviewing plans and creating a recommendation for proposed large-scale, mixed use development.

For information contact:
Melissa Jonas @ 703.244.5229
Email: melissaj@metrostudy.com

About Metrostudy
Metrostudy is the leading provider of primary and secondary market information to the housing industry and related industries nationwide. In addition to providing its own primary housing data collected by a staff of 650, the company is recognized for its consulting expertise on development, marketing and economic issues, and is a key source of research studies evaluating the marketability of residential and commercial real estate projects. Services are offered through an extensive network of offices located in major metropolitan areas throughout the U.S. For more information, visit www.metrostudy.com.

As the leading source for unbiased data on new housing in the United States, Metrostudy economists are often quoted by major news sources. In the article below, the Chicago Tribune turned to Metrostudy’s Chris Huecksteadt for information about the Chicago-area housing market. According to Huecksteadt, “We need to see a real solid six months to a year of real growth” before we can conclude that the market is finally turning upward. Read more from the article below:

• Chicago-area home sales see boost, but prices still lagging

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As the leading source for unbiased data on new housing in the United States, Metrostudy economists are often quoted by major news sources. In the article below, the Sun Sentinal turned to Metrostudy’s Brad Hunter for information about the outlook of South Florida’s housing market. According to Hunter, “People are more optimistic and ready to buy.” Read more from the article below:

• South Florida home-building on the way back

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As the leading source for unbiased data on new housing in the United States, Metrostudy economists are often quoted by major news sources. In the articles below, Statesman.com turned to Metrostudy’s Eldon Rude for information about the Austin area housing market. Read more from the articles below:

• Austin housing starts up 20% in first quarter
• Austin housing market on upswing, industry expert says

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In these uncertain times, generalizations regarding the housing market and new home prices can do more harm than good. It is better to examine the different classes of homes before making a judgment about trends in home prices. For example, during the first two weeks in January, Metrostudy field research teams drove 500,000 miles and inspected 4.5 million subdivision lots, while updating prices on new home offerings in more than 40,000 subdivisions in 19 states. Our findings regarding the prices of new, single family detached homes is quite different from C/S.  Metrostudy does not index the prices nor do we seasonally adjust the numbers, since our research in the markets we cover represents a new home census, not a sample.

Here is a table that shows our findings, compared to C/S:

CASE/SHILLER Metrostudy

The Metrostudy data reflected in the three right hand columns above show the current Median price of homes being sold in new home subdivisions in the above markets. The difference in the numbers does not suggest that the C/S numbers are wrong.  The difference does, however clearly demonstrate that the changes in prices of new homes is, in some cases, dramatically different from the more generalized small sample reflected in the C/S results. We have found that, in most of the 88 MSA’s in which we conduct our quarterly research, new home prices are improving, and we expect that they will continue to improve as the economy begins its recovery toward 2013.

ESPN actually has a show with commentary and analysis of sporting events based solely on historical statistics which is named “Numbers Never Lie”.  Depending on the perspective, numbers can say a lot of things. ESPN knows this, thus the title of their show uses an asterisk after the “never”.

Recently an article appeared in my inbox with a headline, “Raleigh-NC Newest New Homes Sales Numbers Give Hints Market Decline is Deepening”. The headline caught my eye, and so I read the article.  It appears to me that the headline and article was based on deed transactions (Cary-Raleigh MSA only-see next paragraph), which may have well documented reporting time lags.

Also, the Triangle New Home market, driven primarily by the Research Triangle Park, employment engine, is actually comprised of the Raleigh Cary MSA and the Durham-Chapel Hill MSA.  This fact is well known among local market experts.  Only the Raleigh-Cary MSA was referenced in the article.  Thus 28% of the Triangle New Home marketplace was missing from the article which in our view made the headline and article suspect.   Since 1998 Metrostudy has been driving the entire Triangle New Home market each quarter and providing the market with true local expertise and analysis. Metrostudy’s fourth quarter survey showed starts in the entire Triangle New Home market in the final 3 months of 2011 were up nearly 10% over the same time period 2012 (1,173 vs. 1,070), a sign that the market is actually improving.

Multiple sources of market intelligence can be a prudent decision making tool for businesses.  However, it is critical to be sure that the methodology and local expertise are made known to the reader of the numbers.  In our view, the headline in the article using only one MSA and deed records was sensational, while lacking the proper perspective.

As the Triangle new home market continues to improve, which we and all of you reading this are hoping, it is imperative that real time, local expertise drives your market intelligence.  Metrostudy has this available in the Triangle from our quarterly survey, along with deed records.

A cottage industry of new home information experts has developed during this prolonged housing recession.  Please encourage your company to question the methodology being used by all firms to write headlines and prepare “expert” local intelligence.

As the leading source for unbiased data on new housing in the United States, Metrostudy economists are often quoted by major news sources. In the article below, Crain’s turned to Metrostudy’s Lance Ramella for information about the Chicago area housing market. The information found by Metrostudy and Ramella show that ‘the local homebuilding market is still out of whack.’ Read more from the article below:

• Chicago area has enough home-ready lots to last 20+ years

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As the leading source for unbiased data on new housing in the United States, Metrostudy economists are often quoted by major news sources. In the article below, they turned to Metrostudy’s Mike Inselmann for information about the Houston housing market.

• Houston NW Chamber of Commerce hosts Northwest Houston Works!

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As the leading source for unbiased data on new housing in the United States, Metrostudy economists are often quoted by major news sources. In the article below, they turned to Metrostudy’s Steve Johnson for information about the Inland Empire housing market.

• Corona master-planned community sells for $3.5 million

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As the leading source for unbiased data on new housing in the United States, Metrostudy economists are often quoted by major news sources. In the articles below, they turned to Metrostudy’s Brad Hunter for information about Florida’s housing market.

• Southwest Florida’s high-end real estate priced to move
• Commercial Connection: Florida’s housing market enters 2012 with continued momentum

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