Trulia Names New Chief Economist

Trulia, a San Francisco-based online real estate site for homebuyers and renters, has promoted its Housing Economist, Ralph McLaughlin, to fill the Chief Economist position with the company, according to an announcement from Trulia on Tuesday.

In the role of Chief Economist with Trulia, McLaughlin will lead housing economics research for the company and provide key insights about economic and housing trends as well as public policy for house hunters, according to the announcement.

“Having a dedicated research team at Trulia is part of our commitment to making it easy and enjoyable to find a home,” said Paul Levine, President of Trulia. “With Ralph's expertise, we have shed light on how the real estate market has changed in the last few years, focusing on key consumer issues like affordability. Ralph has been an invaluable member of our research team, and with this promotion, I am excited to have him lead the charge and build on the work that has already been done.”

McLaughlin joined Trulia as the Housing Economist in August 2014. Prior to joining Trulia, he was an Assistant Professor of Urban and Regional Planning at San Jose State University. In that role, he was the Director of the Real Estate Development program. He has also served as an Assistant Professor in Urban and Regional Planning at the University of South Australia. His research was focused on housing supply, urban growth, and economic geography while he held the assistant professor positions.

“As an economist and long-time house hunter, I understand what buyers, sellers, and renters actually care about and what they need to know to successfully navigate today's polarized housing market.”

Ralph McLaughlin, Chief Economist, Trulia

“As an economist and long-time house hunter, I understand what buyers, sellers, and renters actually care about and what they need to know to successfully navigate today's polarized housing market,” McLaughlin said. “Under my leadership, Trulia will continue to explore the growing divide between the Costly Coasts in the booming West and Northeast markets versus the Bargain Belt in the sluggish South and Midwest markets. It's a trend that has important ramifications for the U.S. economy and housing policy.”

McLaughlin has a PhD in Planning, Policy, and Design with an emphasis in Urban and Regional Economics from the University of California at Irvine and a Bachelor of Science degree in Geography and Regional Development from the University of Arizona.