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Real Estate Headline Sentiment Index – Help Shape It, Get Early Access

Want a better way to track what’s happening in CRE markets—before traditional metrics catch up?

We’re partnering with Marquette University to build a powerful new AI-powered metric called the Real Estate Headline Sentiment Index (REHSI) —and we need 30-seconds of your time to help guide it (and in return, we’ll get you free early access!).

How You Can Help – Complete This 30-Second Survey

Complete this 30-second survey to tell us which local real estate news sources you rely on.

That’s it. Just complete this quick 30-second survey, and you’ll help us build a smarter, more representative index.

What You’ll Get in Return

  • Free early access to the CRE Headline Sentiment Index – Projected to be released in 2025
  • A direct role in shaping how sentiment is measured in your markets
  • An edge in making faster, smarter investment decisions

We’re partnering with a top university’s CRE program to build this index using natural language processing (NLP) and AI. The index analyzes thousands of headlines daily, scoring sentiment across property types, geographic regions, and timeframes—providing an up-to-the-minute read on how markets are feeling.

Why a Headline Sentiment Index for CRE?

Sentiment indices have long been used in finance to quickly gauge market mood. We believe commercial real estate deserves the same.

Traditional CRE metrics—cap rates, vacancy, absorption—are powerful but lagging. A sentiment index can capture the mood of the market in real time, flagging shifts in perception before they show up in the data.

This is especially powerful in today’s environment, where having a few days’ edge can mean the difference between getting in early… or getting in too late.

How CRE Pros Will Use This

Here’s how we expect real estate professionals to use the CRE Headline Sentiment Index:

  • Spot Early Market Shifts: Capture directional changes in sentiment before they show up in the comps.
  • Validate Investment Theses: Test your assumptions against the pulse of the market.
  • Augment Underwriting: Layer sentiment data into your due diligence process to gauge risk and upside.
  • Act in Real Time: Use the index to adjust strategy as new headlines roll in.

And over time, we plan to integrate the index into A.CRE modeling tools, case studies, and AI workflows—so this becomes a live input, not just a static number.

Take the Survey → Help Shape the Index

We’re not building this in a vacuum. We’re building it for CRE professionals—and with your help.

Which local publications do you read? What newsletters land in your inbox? Who’s writing the headlines that shape your view of the market?

Let’s make this index smart, representative, and useful—together.

Final Word

The CRE Headline Sentiment Index has the potential to better inform how we understand market momentum. But it only works if it reflects what you read and trust.

Help us build it. Get early access. And get ahead of the next move.


Frequently Asked Questions about the Real Estate Headline Sentiment Index (REHSI)

The REHSI is an AI-powered index developed in partnership with Marquette University that analyzes thousands of CRE-related headlines daily to track market sentiment across property types, geographies, and timeframes.

The goal is to provide a real-time metric that captures market sentiment, filling the gap left by lagging indicators like cap rates, vacancy, and absorption rates.

It enables faster decision-making by helping users:

Spot early shifts in sentiment

Validate investment strategies

Augment underwriting with real-time data

Act quickly as market mood changes

You can contribute by completing a 30-second survey about the local CRE news sources and publications you follow. This helps ensure the index reflects real-world inputs from industry professionals.

Participants receive:

Free early access to the index (projected 2025 release)

A voice in shaping how CRE sentiment is measured

A strategic edge in reacting to market trends earlier

REHSI uses natural language processing (NLP) and AI to scan and score thousands of news headlines daily, producing a sentiment index that tracks the tone of the market in near real time.

REHSI measures sentiment across multiple dimensions including:

Property types (e.g., retail, office, multifamily)

Geographic markets (city, regional, national)

Time periods (historical trends and real-time shifts)

Yes. Over time, REHSI is expected to be integrated into A.CRE case studies, modeling tools, and AI workflows to allow sentiment data to inform decision-making in real time.

The REHSI is currently in development, with a projected release in 2025. Survey participants will get early access ahead of the public release.


About the Author: Spencer Burton is Co-Founder and CEO of CRE Agents, an AI-powered platform training digital coworkers for commercial real estate. He has 20+ years of CRE experience and has underwritten over $30 billion in real estate across top institutional firms.

Spencer also co-founded Adventures in CRE, served as President at Stablewood, and holds a BS in International Affairs from Florida State University and a Masters in Real Estate Finance from Cornell University.