HouseCanary API Python Client

The HouseCanary API Python Client provides an easy interface to call the HouseCanary API.

API documentation

Full documentation is available at https://api-docs.housecanary.com

Installation

To install:

pip install housecanary

Basic Usage

import housecanary
client = housecanary.ApiClient("my_api_key", "my_api_secret")
result = client.property.value(("10216 N Willow Ave", "64157"))

# result is an instance of housecanary.response.Response
print result.json()

Authentication

When you create an instance of an ApiClient, you need to give it your API key and secret. You can manage these in your settings page at https://valuereport.housecanary.com/#/settings/api-settings.

You can pass these values to the ApiClient constructor:

client = housecanary.ApiClient("my_api_key", "my_api_secret")

Alternatively, instead of passing in your key and secret to the constructor, you can store them in the following environment variables:

• HC_API_KEY
• HC_API_SECRET

Creating an instance of ApiClient with no arguments will read your key and secret from those environment variables:

client = housecanary.ApiClient()

Usage Details

Endpoint methods

The ApiClient class provides a few wrappers which contain various methods for calling the different API endpoints.

The property wrapper is used for calling the Analytics API Property endpoints as well as the Value Report and Rental Report endpoints.

The block wrapper is used for calling the Analytics API Block endpoints.

The zip wrapper is used for calling the Analytics API Zip endpoints.

The msa wrapper is used for calling the Analytics API MSA endpoints.

Property Endpoints

Analytics API Property Endpoints:

• block_histogram_baths
• block_histogram_beds
• block_histogram_building_area
• block_histogram_value
• block_histogram_value_sqft
• block_rental_value_distribution
• block_value_distribution
• block_value_ts
• block_value_ts_historical
• block_value_ts_forecast
• census
• details
• flood
• ltv
• ltv_details
• mortgage_lien
• msa_details
• msa_hpi_ts
• msa_hpi_ts_forecast
• msa_hpi_ts_historical
• nod
• owner_occupied
• rental_value
• rental_value_within_block
• sales_history
• school
• value
• value_forecast
• value_within_block
• zip_details
• zip_hpi_forecast
• zip_hpi_historical
• zip_hpi_ts
• zip_hpi_ts_forecast
• zip_hpi_ts_historical
• zip_volatility
• component_mget

Value Report API Endpoint:

• value_report

Rental Report API Endpoint:

• rental_report

Args:

All of the Analytics API property endpoint methods take an data argument. data can be in the following forms:

A dict like:

{"address": "82 County Line Rd", "zipcode": "72173", "meta": "someID"}

Or

{"address": "82 County Line Rd", "city": "San Francisco", "state": "CA", "meta": "someID"}

Or

{"slug": "123-Example-St-San-Francisco-CA-94105"}

A list of dicts as specified above:

[{"address": "82 County Line Rd", "zipcode": "72173", "meta": "someID"},
 {"address": "43 Valmonte Plaza", "zipcode": "90274", "meta": "someID2"}]

A single string representing a slug:

"123-Example-St-San-Francisco-CA-94105"

A tuple in the form of (address, zipcode, meta) like:

("82 County Line Rd", "72173", "someID")

A list of (address, zipcode, meta) tuples like:

[("82 County Line Rd", "72173", "someID"),
 ("43 Valmonte Plaza", "90274", "someID2")]

Using a tuple only supports address, zipcode and meta. To specify city, state, unit or slug, please use a dict.

The "meta" field is always optional.

The available keys in the dict are:

• address (required if no slug)
• slug (required if no address)
• zipcode (optional)
• unit (optional)
• city (optional)
• state (optional)
• meta (optional)
• client_value (optional, for value_within_block and rental_value_within_block)
• client_value_sqft (optional, for value_within_block and rental_value_within_block)

All of the property endpoint methods return a PropertyResponse object (or ValueReportResponse or RentalReportResponse) or the output of a custom OutputGenerator if one was specified in the constructor.

Examples:

client = housecanary.ApiClient()
result = client.property.value([("10216 N Willow Ave", "64157"), ("82 County Line Rd", "72173")])

result = client.property.value({"address": "10216 N Willow Ave", "city": "San Francisco", "state": "CA"})

result = client.property.value("123-Example-St-San-Francisco-CA-94105")

Component_mget endpoint

You may want to retrieve data from multiple Analytics API endpoints in one request. In this case, you can use the component_mget method. The component_mget method takes an address_data argument just like the other endpoint methods. Pass in a list of Analytics API property endpoint names as the second argument. Note that value_report and rental_report cannot be included.

Example:

client = housecanary.ApiClient()
result = client.property.component_mget(("10216 N Willow Ave", "64157"), ["property/school", "property/census", "property/details"])

Value Report:

The value_report method behaves differently than the other endpoint methods. It only supports one address at a time, and it takes some extra, optional parameters:

Args:

• address (str)
• zipcode (str)

Kwargs:

• report_type - "full" or "summary". Optional. Default is "full"
• format_type - "json", "pdf", "xlsx" or "all". Optional. Default is "json"

Example:

client = housecanary.ApiClient()
# get Value Report in JSON format with "summary" report_type.
result = client.property.value_report("10216 N Willow Ave", "64157", "summary", "json")
# print the JSON output
print result.json()

# get Value Report in PDF format with "full" report_type.
result = client.property.value_report("10216 N Willow Ave", "64157", format_type="pdf")
# result is binary data of the PDF.

Rental Report:

The rental_report method is for calling the Rental Report API. It only supports one address at a time.

Args:

• address (str)
• zipcode (str)

Kwargs:

• format_type - "json", "xlsx" or "all". Optional. Default is "json"

Learn more about the various endpoints in the API docs.

Block Endpoints

Analytics API Block Endpoints:

• histogram_baths
• histogram_beds
• histogram_building_area
• histogram_value
• histogram_value_sqft
• rental_value_distribution
• value_distribution
• value_ts
• value_ts_forecast
• value_ts_historical
• component_mget

Args:

All of the Analytics API block endpoints take a block_data argument. block_data can be in the following forms:

A dict with a block_id like:

{"block_id": "060750615003005", "meta": "someId"}

For histogram endpoints you can include the num_bins key:

{"block_id": "060750615003005", "num_bins": 5, "meta": "someId"}

For time series and distribution endpoints you can include the property_type key:

{"block_id": "060750615003005", "property_type": "SFD", "meta": "someId"}

A list of dicts as specified above:

[{"block_id": "012345678901234", "meta": "someId"}, {"block_id": "012345678901234", "meta": "someId2}]

A single string representing a block_id:

"012345678901234"

A list of block_id strings:

["012345678901234", "060750615003005"]

The "meta" field is always optional.

See https://api-docs.housecanary.com/#analytics-api-block-level for more details on the available parameters such as num_bins and property_type.

All of the block endpoint methods return a BlockResponse, or the output of a custom OutputGenerator if one was specified in the constructor.

Examples:

client = housecanary.ApiClient()
result = client.block.histogram_baths("060750615003005")

result = client.block.histogram_baths({"block_id": "060750615003005", "num_bins": 5})

result = client.block.value_ts({"block_id": "060750615003005", "property_type": "SFD"})

result = client.block.value_ts([{"block_id": "060750615003005", "property_type": "SFD"}, {"block_id": "012345678901234", "property_type": "SFD"}])

result = client.block.value_distribution(["012345678901234", "060750615003005"])

Zip Endpoints

Analytics API Zip Endpoints:

• details
• hpi_forecast
• hpi_historical
• hpi_ts
• hpi_ts_forecast
• hpi_ts_historical
• volatility
• component_mget

Args:

All of the Analytics API zip endpoints take a zip_data argument. zip_data can be in the following forms:

A dict with a zipcode like:

{"zipcode": "90274", "meta": "someId"}

A list of dicts as specified above:

[{"zipcode": "90274", "meta": "someId"}, {"zipcode": "01960", "meta": "someId2}]

A single string representing a zipcode:

"90274"

A list of zipcode strings:

["90274", "01960"]

The "meta" field is always optional.

All of the zip endpoint methods return a ZipCodeResponse, or the output of a custom OutputGenerator if one was specified in the constructor.

Examples:

client = housecanary.ApiClient()
result = client.zip.details("90274")

result = client.zip.details({"zipcode": "90274", "meta": "someId"})

result = client.zip.details([{"zipcode": "90274", "meta": "someId"}, {"zipcode": "01960", "meta": "someId2"}])

result = client.zip.details(["90274", "01960"])

MSA Endpoints

Analytics API MSA Endpoints:

• details
• hpi_ts
• hpi_ts_forecast
• hpi_ts_historical
• component_mget

Args:

All of the Analytics API MSA endpoints take an msa_data argument. msa_data can be in the following forms:

A dict with an msa like:

{"msa": "41860", "meta": "someId"}

A list of dicts as specified above:

[{"msa": "41860", "meta": "someId"}, {"msa": "40928", "meta": "someId2}]

A single string representing a msa:

"41860"

A list of msa strings:

["41860", "40928"]

The "meta" field is always optional.

All of the msa endpoint methods return an MsaResponse, or the output of a custom OutputGenerator if one was specified in the constructor.

Examples:

client = housecanary.ApiClient()
result = client.msa.details("41860")

result = client.msa.details({"msa": "90274", "meta": "someId"})

result = client.msa.details([{"msa": "41860", "meta": "someId"}, {"msa": "40928", "meta": "someId2"}])

result = client.msa.details(["41860", "40928"])

Response Objects

Response

Response is a base class for encapsulating an HTTP response from the HouseCanary API.

Properties:

• endpoint_name - Gets the endpoint name of the original request
• response - Gets the underlying response object.

Methods:

• json() - Gets the body of the response from the API as json.
• has_object_error() - Returns true if any requested objects had a business logic error, otherwise returns false.
• get_object_errors() - Gets a list of business error message strings for each of the requested objects that had a business error. If there was no error, returns an empty list.
• objects() - Overridden in subclasses.
• rate_limits - Returns a list of rate limit information

PropertyResponse

A subclass of Response, this is returned for all property endpoints except for value_report and rental_report.

Methods:

• objects() - Gets a list of Property objects for the requested properties, each containing the object's returned json data from the API.
• properties() - An alias for the objects() method.

BlockResponse

A subclass of Response, this is returned for all block endpoints.

Methods:

• objects() - Gets a list of Block objects for the requested blocks, each containing the object's returned json data from the API.
• blocks() - An alias for the objects() method.

ZipCodeResponse

A subclass of Response, this is returned for all zip endpoints.

Methods:

• objects() - Gets a list of ZipCode objects for the requested zipcodes, each containing the object's returned json data from the API.
• zipcodes() - An alias for the objects() method.

MsaResponse

A subclass of Response, this is returned for all msa endpoints.

Methods:

• objects() - Gets a list of Msa objects for the requested msas, each containing the object's returned json data from the API.
• msas() - An alias for the objects() method.

HouseCanaryObject

Base class for various types of objects returned from the HouseCanary API. Currently, only the Property subclass is implemented.

Properties:

• component_results - a list of ComponentResult objects that contain data and error information for each endpoint requested for this HouseCanaryObject.

Methods:

• has_error() - Returns a boolean of whether there was a business logic error fetching data for any components for this object.
• get_errors() - If there was a business error fetching data for any components for this object, returns the error messages.

Property

A subclass of HouseCanaryObject, the Property represents a single address and it's returned data.

Properties:

• address
• zipcode
• zipcode_plus4
• address_full
• city
• country_fips
• lat
• lng
• state
• unit
• meta

Example:

result = client.property.value(("123 Main St", "01234", "meta information"))
p = result.properties()[0]
print p.address
# "123 Main St"
print p.zipcode
# "01234"
print p.meta
# "meta information"
value_result = p.component_results[0]
print value_result.component_name
# 'property/value'
print value_result.api_code
# 0
print value_result.api_code_description
# 'ok'
print value_result.json_data
# {u'value': {u'price_upr': 1575138.0, u'price_lwr': 1326125.0, u'price_mean': 1450632.0, u'fsd': 0.086}}
print p.has_error()
# False
print p.get_errors()
# []

Block

A subclass of HouseCanaryObject, the Block represents a single block and it's returned data.

Properties:

• block_id
• property_type
• meta

Example:

result = client.block.value_ts("060750615003005")
b = result.blocks()[0]
print b.block_id
# "060750615003005"
print b.meta
# "meta information"
value_result = b.component_results[0]
print value_result.component_name
# 'block/value_ts'
print value_result.api_code
# 0
print value_result.api_code_description
# 'ok'
print value_result.json_data
# [...data...]
print b.has_error()
# False
print b.get_errors()
# []

ZipCode

A subclass of HouseCanaryObject, the ZipCode represents a single zipcode and it's returned data.

Properties:

• zipcode
• meta

Example:

result = client.zip.details("90274")
z = result.zipcodes()[0]
print z.zipcode
# "90274"
print z.meta
# "meta information"
details_result = z.component_results[0]
print details_result.component_name
# 'zip/details'
print details_result.api_code
# 0
print details_result.api_code_description
# 'ok'
print details_result.json_data
# [...data...]
print z.has_error()
# False
print z.get_errors()
# []

Msa

A subclass of HouseCanaryObject, the Msa represents a single Metropolitan Statistical Area and it's returned data.

Properties:

• msa
• meta

Example:

result = client.msa.details("41860")
m = result.msas()[0]
print m.msa
# "41860"
print m.meta
# "meta information"
details_result = m.component_results[0]
print details_result.component_name
# 'msa/details'
print details_result.api_code
# 0
print details_result.api_code_description
# 'ok'
print details_result.json_data
# [...data...]
print m.has_error()
# False
print m.get_errors()
# []

ValueReportResponse

A subclass of Response, this is the object returned for the value_report endpoint when "json" format_type is used. It simply returns the JSON data of the Value Report.

Example:

result = client.property.value_report("123 Main St", "01234")
print result.json()

RentalReportResponse

A subclass of Response, this is the object returned for the rental_report endpoint when "json" format_type is used. It simply returns the JSON data of the Rental Report.

Example:

result = client.property.rental_report("123 Main St", "01234")
print result.json()

Command Line Tools

When you install this package, a couple command line tools are included and installed on your PATH.

• HouseCanary Analytics API Export
• HouseCanary API Excel Concat

Running Tests

To run the unit test suite:

python setup.py nosetests --with-coverage --cover-package=housecanary

During unit tests, all API requests are mocked. You can run the unit tests with real API requests by doing the following:

• Update URL_PREFIX in constants.py to point to a test or dev environment
• Obtain an account for that environment that has permissions to all API components
• Obtain an API Key and Secret and put them in HC_API_KEY and HC_API_SECRET environment variables
• Run the test suite as:

HC_API_CALLS=true python setup.py nosetests

Note: This setting will be ignored and API requests will be mocked if URL_PREFIX is pointing to Production.

License

This API Client Library is made available under the MIT License:

The MIT License (MIT)

Copyright (c) 2017 HouseCanary, Inc

Permission is hereby granted, free of charge, to any person obtaining a copy of this software and associated documentation files (the "Software"), to deal in the Software without restriction, including without limitation the rights to use, copy, modify, merge, publish, distribute, sublicense, and/or sell copies of the Software, and to permit persons to whom the Software is furnished to do so, subject to the following conditions:

The above copyright notice and this permission notice shall be included in all copies or substantial portions of the Software.

THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS IS", WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND NONINFRINGEMENT. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE AUTHORS OR COPYRIGHT HOLDERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY CLAIM, DAMAGES OR OTHER LIABILITY, WHETHER IN AN ACTION OF CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE, ARISING FROM, OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE SOFTWARE OR THE USE OR OTHER DEALINGS IN THE SOFTWARE.

For the avoidance of doubt, the above license does not apply to HouseCanary's proprietary software code or APIs, or to any data, analytics or reports made available by HouseCanary from time to time, all of which may be licensed pursuant to a separate written agreement