Use of Administrative Records to Replace or Enhance the Mortgage/Home Equity Loan Amount & Payment Questions on the American Community Survey

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​As detailed in the report, “Agility in Action 2.0: A Snapshot of Enhancements to the American Community Survey” (Census Bureau, 2017), the Census Bureau is investigating ways to reduce the difficulty and length of the American Community Survey (ACS) by using administrative records to potentially replace or enhance survey questions.  Some of the ACS questions we are investigating include primary and secondary mortgage type and the associated monthly mortgage payment for each.  The research described in this report explores the coverage and quality of mortgage data from an identified administrative records source.   The findings will help guide the determination about whether the Census Bureau could remove the questions from the ACS, or alternatively, use the administrative data to supplement respondent data by filling in missing responses or enhancing editing routines.

Page Last Revised - October 8, 2021