The Dynamics of Housing Prices

摘要

We analyze the prices of owner-occupied housing in 97 metropolitan areas between 1980 and 2011. Our tests indicate that price changes exhibit positive serial correlation at the one year intervals, with subsequent reversals of price changes over longer intervals. Consistent with our simple model, regional differences in observed price patterns reflect differences in the serial correlation of the demand shocks, as well as the elasticity of supply responses.