Why did Freddie Mac extend the national index back to 1970?
As technology has developed, our ability to match loan transactions has improved and the quality of the data has improved with better systems. Because of this, Freddie Mac now believes that we can provide a national index that extends back an additional five years, which enables researchers and others interested in housing market information to assess the impacts of an additional business cycle on home values. This information is important because between 1970 and 2007 there have only been five recessions and housing is so important to the economy.
