Two familiar names in the commercial real estate information industry have merged. New York-based research firm Real Capital Analytics (RCA) has acquired Real Estate Econometrics, whose founder, Sam Chandan, has been named global chief economist and executive vice president at Real Capital Analytics.

The acquisition has been finalized and Chandan has already moved into the Real Capital Analytics offices, the company confirmed this morning.

“Dr. Chandan has long been one of the most influential economists in the industry and we are very fortunate to now have Sam as part of the RCA team,” said Robert White Jr., RCA’s founder and president.

Chandan left his position as chief economist at New York-based research firm Reis in 2008 to found Real Estate Econometrics. The company, also based in New York, offered strategic insight into policy and regulatory initiatives affecting commercial real estate, as well as commercial mortgage and equity investment surveillance.

“We are looking forward to being part of the RCA family,” said Chandan in a statement. “As the flow of real estate capital and credit becomes increasingly international, RCA's global platform offers the foremost vantage point for thought leadership and industry impact.”

Chandan’s firm pioneered new areas of research and played a leading role in assessing recent policy initiatives on behalf of the industry, says White. “In joining Real Estate Econometrics’ capabilities with our own, RCA enhances our unmatched data set and analytical resources.”

Chandan holds a Ph.D. in applied economics from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, a business school, where he serves as adjunct professor of real estate. He was a doctoral scholar in the economics department at Princeton University and has served on the faculty of the economics department at Dartmouth College.

At the time of the acquisition, Chandan was president of Real Estate Econometrics. In addition to his role as global chief economist at Real Capital Analytics, he will serve as a member of the firm’s management committee.