re: Zillow House value is trending down wth

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You wanna know about your home’s value? Call a local appraiser.

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I know you know what you are talking about, but this is simply wrong. Appraisers don't know every community well. The only way to really know a homes value is by selling it. I've seen appraisals off just as much as Zillow. Appraisers and Zillow both follow the current selling trend, whether thats up or down. But they don't plan the market. If its going up, your house could be worth quite a bit more in a hot market than one that sold 3 months ago.

Appraising/ Zillow/ etc. is not rocket science people. You take what homes have sold for in your area and divide it by sq ft, then you multiply that number by your own sq ft.

Where the kicker comes in, is small things that no one accounts for. My old neighborhood had Golf course lots, water front lots, interior lots with nothing but neighbors, and easement lots with woods. All of them had different values. Some houses have 1 garage some have 4, none of which is considered by zillow or an appraiser enough.

Even things like time of year. If you are selling your house in late fall or winter and no homes have sold since peak sales season in Summer, than there may be fewer buyers on average so your realistic price over the off season is likely lower.