Since Week 1, the scoring methodology has changed dramatically, for the better in my eyes. Not all catalysts are equal. Pharma and semiconductor fabs generate concentrated, high-wage workforces that arrive in markets with no existing housing supply calibrated to that income band — producing measurable repricing pressure. Scoring now weights catalyst type alongside catalyst timing. Several metros from Week 1 have been removed as a result; see the Excluded table at the bottom.
Universe: Top 100 U.S. MSAs + select sub-markets with qualifying catalyst activity Scoring: 0–10 composite (catalyst type, lifecycle timing, workforce concentration, market capacity)
NOW
Score 7.5–10.0 → Deploy capital within 90 days
NEXT
Score 5.5–7.4 → Underwrite now, set trigger
LATER
Score 3.5–5.4 → Monitor quarterly — Top 5 only
Excluded from Week 1
The following metros appeared in the Week 1 issue and have been removed. In all cases, the primary reason is either catalyst type (not pharma/semi), catalyst timing (too early to produce repricing), or insufficient evidence to support the original placement.
