Is Zillow accurate for home values?
How accurate is the Zestimate? The nationwide median error rate for the Zestimate for on-market homes is 2.4%, while the Zestimate for off-market homes has a median error rate of 7.49%. The Zestimate's accuracy depends on the availability of data in a home's area.
The most accurate home value estimator is Redfin as it uses historical pricing data and also considers real-time demand and market trends. Redfin estimates are more accurate than Zillow and the interface is intuitive making it easy to find exactly what you're looking for.
Bottom line: We're not seeing any major home price decline or crash in the Georgia housing market just yet. The present supply of homes in Georgia still favors sellers. In July 2022, total active listings in the state increased by 44.8% year-over-year.
You can determine home value by using an online valuation tool, hiring an appraiser, using a real estate agent, or checking comparable homes in your area. Using an online valuation tool or pulling comps in your neighborhood is easy and quick, but you'll receive more accurate results using a REALTOR® or appraiser.
Redfin's home value estimator is more accurate than Zillow's when it comes to pinpointing the sales price. According to Redfin, its estimates are approximately 74% accurate within 5% of the sales price for listed homes. By comparison, Zillow is only 67% accurate within 5% of the sale price for listed homes.
A professional real estate appraisal is far more accurate than a Zillow Zestimate. You should keep in mind that Zestimate is just an estimate based on available data, and will often miss vital information on a home's condition and renovations.
The Zestimate is often less accurate than your Realtor's estimate and can be thousands of dollars off. According to Zillow's Zestimate page, “The nationwide median error rate for the Zestimate for on-market homes is 1.9%, while the Zestimate for off-market homes has a median error rate of 7.5%.
Zestimates are only as up to date as the data behind them, meaning they may be outdated or incorrect. Zestimates may not reflect improvements, mistakes in property taxes paid, or exceptions to tax assessments.
Are Realtor Estimates Accurate? A Realtor estimate, or a Comparative Market Analysis, should be more accurate and more detailed than an online valuation tool like a Zestimate. There are several reasons for this. First, real estate agents who know a particular area will be intimately familiar with the comparable sales.
Winter is usually the cheapest time of year to purchase a home. Sellers are often motivated, which automatically translates into an advantage to you. Most people suspend their listings from around Thanksgiving to the New Year because they assume buyers are scarce.
What is the hottest real estate market in Georgia?
Norcross, Georgia
Norcross is the hottest real estate market in the state in 2022. Located near multiple highways that connect it to Atlanta and its surrounding areas, Norcross has experienced 80% growth since the 2010 census. It is located northeast of Atlanta in Gwinnett County with a population of around 18,000.
Based strictly on the price-to-income ratio, Cusseta-Chattahoochee County is the cheapest place to buy a home in Georgia. With a PTI ratio of just 1.8, residents can comfortably afford to buy a house on the local median household income of $45,700.
The fact that major online calculators may be working from incomplete data means that home value estimates may be off. But it isn't by much. Redfin strives to deliver estimates that are within 3% or less of a home's selling price. Zillow even goes as far as to list their median error for top housing markets.
Zillow may adjust your home value estimate according to the market. In general, homes are worth more during a seller's market than during a buyer's market. If you checked your Zestimate during a hot seller's market, then checked it again when the market turned cool, your home value may have taken a hit.
Are Redfin Estimates accurate? According to Redfin, their estimate has “a median error rate of 3.02% for on-market homes and 8.69% for off market homes.” In other words - if you're a potential seller who hasn't put your home on the market yet, the estimate may be off by many thousands of dollars.
The Redfin Estimate is highly accurate, with a current median error rate of just 2.20% for homes that are for sale, and 7.21% for off market homes. This means that when a home that is currently on the market sells, the Redfin Estimate will be within 2.20% of the sales price half of the time.
The Zestimate is not an appraisal and it should be used as a starting point. We encourage buyers, sellers and homeowners to supplement the Zestimate with other research such as visiting the home, getting a professional appraisal of the home, or requesting a comparative market analysis (CMA) from a real estate agent.”
A low appraisal could be very good for you as the home buyer — if the seller decides to lower the price to match the appraisal. However, you're taking a risk when the appraisal doesn't support the asking price. It could mean that the house is actually a lemon.
With the new Zestimate cash offer feature, eligible homeowners can skip past that process. From there, the transaction works the same as with other Zillow Offers — a Zillow employee inspects the home, provides a list of needed repairs and an adjusted final offer and the homeowner can pick a closing date.
If your home has more value-factors (bigger square footage, better condition, more amenities, etc) than the comparables that are pulled, then your Zestimate is likely to be lower than actual value.