Abstract
The paper aims to show how the historical development of CEE countries and their institutional framework has influenced the quality of information on housing markets. Central and Eastern European countries (CEE) have undergone the serious economic and institutional transformation. The functioning of the residential sector was changed by introducing the new institutions, regulations, housing finance institutions and internet. The newly established residential markets, the actors operating on these markets, and the governments (both national as well as EU) have generated the demand for better information. This was partially fulfilled, yet the quality of the information on the residential markets is still lagging behind the developed Western economies. Moreover there is clear lack of the historical market data, which make the decision making regarding the regulation of the markets and the mortgage provision more risky. The global economic crisis has uncovered the economic vulnerabilities of the CEE and their residential markets. At the same time the crisis created the serious pressure for more responsible investments and higher efficiency, and the triggered demand for higher quality and more comprehensive information on the residential markets.