Question for CRE folks (Asset Management & Acquisitions): how do you actually use data across different property types?

Hey everyone,

Curious to hear from people working in CRE asset management or acquisitions — when you’re doing property research, market research, or underwriting, what kind of data do you actually use day to day?

And how do you decide which data matters most depending on the property type — like office vs. retail, multifamily, industrial, life science, healthcare, senior housing, student housing, single-family rentals, or luxury condos?

Some things I’ve been wondering:

• What kind of data do you usually ask brokers for?
• Do you still use government data (Census, BLS, BEA, USPS, Case-Shiller, permits, GDP, etc.)?
• What are your go-to third-party platforms (CoStar, RCA, Reonomy, Yardi, Trepp, Green Street, etc.)?
• Do your firms have internal databases or dashboards you rely on?

I’ve seen things like MLS, USPS data, Case-Shiller, housing starts, scaffolding permits, GDP growth — but I’m trying to get a clearer picture of how professionals organize and prioritize data depending on the project.

Also curious — are there any cool or innovative ways you’ve used data? (AI tools, geospatial mapping, alternative data, etc.?)

And for people on the asset management side vs. acquisitions, how different is your approach to data and analysis?

Would love to hear how the pros think about data strategy in CRE — thanks in advance for sharing your experience