zillow

2 Reasons Zillow Gets Home Values Right, Half The Time

Mario Avalos1 Comment

9 times out of 10, people check their home value on Zillow or Trulia prior to calling a real estate agent. I personally think these sites are great considering they get it right about 50% of the time (when you take into account that an algorithm is trying to determine a very complex ordeal such as the value of a home…props to that).

So why do they miss the mark the other 50% of the time?

I don’t really know, and I doubt anyone else truly knows, but here is my guess. Because they can only see what’s on the outside of the property thru the eye in the sky – aka satellites –  and they can only analyze what can be found on public records such as number of beds, number of baths, etc.

The problem here is two-fold.

  1. Often, public records are incorrect
  2. These sites can’t see the interior of your home

Say you added a family room to a property. Or your home was built in 1975, but you have made an update here and there. It’s this lack of accurate information that can distort what’s reported in sites like Zillow.

Questions about your home value? Call / text (305) 305 1535 or email me!

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Prices Up. Show Me The Money!

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budildings in kendall

A combination of almost no available inventory due to sellers holding on to the fence and foreclosed homes not hitting the market at expected rates is creating a nice upward price-ride for home sellers. Price a property 5% to 10% above fair market value based on sold comparable during last 6 months and it will sell. Obviously, choosing the comps are key to determining the correct floor to set the price. So…if there no inventory, buyers are getting loans and have the cash to close them…where’s the bump in the road?  Appraisals.

Appraisals continue to be the itch in a healing wound. If they was only a science to calculating price across the board, life would rock. But it’s not a science. Unfortunately its an art. Yes…Zillow is good at getting close to giving an idea of what is a house is worth, but not great. Mind you…I am a fan of them. But this is not about Zillow or the appraisers. This is about an industry that is picking up at a pace no one ever saw coming.

Critics. Say what you want. This is a phase. This is temporary. Who cares. Even if it is. Its a step int the right direction. Its positive news. And we will take it any day of the week. Based on numbers, I don’t think this is temporary. At least not in Miami Dade County considering that at this point in time there is only a 4-month supply of inventory across single family homes, townhouses and condos. Yes. Condos. I know. I can’t believe it either. Don’t believe me? Put you property for sale at the right price (just for cracks and giggles), and you will see offers (plural) lining out the door. And that goes for ugly homes too.