How Do I Determine My Home’s Value?
- By Jim Blackburn
- on
- 100 first time home buyer FAQs
Homeowner & Buyers Guide: 3 Reliable Ways to Find Out What a Home Is Worth
Whether you’re buying, selling, refinancing, or just curious—knowing your home’s value is a powerful piece of the puzzle. But not all estimates are created equal. Here are three ways to get a solid sense of your property’s worth—plus when to use each one.
1. Online Estimates Are Quick—but Not Always Precise
Websites like Zillow, Redfin, and Realtor.com offer free home value tools, known as automated valuation models (AVMs). These tools analyze public data to give you a ballpark estimate.
They’re great for:
- A quick snapshot of your home’s worth
- Watching value trends over time
Just keep in mind—they’re not always accurate. These tools don’t factor in upgrades, condition, or hyper-local market shifts.
Consider getting a Free Home Value Report to get a professional estimate of your home’s value so you know what it can actually sell for if you decided to sell.
2. A Real Estate Agent Can Run a CMA
For a more accurate take, ask a trusted agent to create a Comparative Market Analysis (CMA). They’ll review:
- Recent sales of similar homes nearby
- Your home’s size, condition, and location
- Market trends in your neighborhood
A CMA is free, fast, and ideal if you’re considering selling or refinancing soon.
Thinking of selling your home? Calculate how much equity you can transfer from your departing home to your next home with our Bridge Loan Calculator.
Or if you’re looking to explore your complete selling strategy, visit our Sell a House page to understand all your options and next steps.
3. A Professional Appraisal Is the Gold Standard
If you want the most reliable value—especially for official purposes like refinancing or legal matters—a licensed appraiser is your best bet. They’ll perform an in-person evaluation of your property, considering everything from square footage to recent upgrades and local comps. This is the method lenders trust.
Once you know your appraised value, you can also tap into it: Calculate your Conventional Cash-Out Refinance Loan Payment now.
Or if you’re looking to lower your monthly payment while keeping your equity intact, calculate your Conventional Refinance Rate Reduction Loan Payment now.
Want to Know What Your Home Is Really Worth?
At Stairway Mortgage, we help you find solutions in difficult times—so you can move forward with confidence.
📘Get your Free Home Value Report and see what your property is truly worth today.
🏦 Review today’s Current Rates.
🧮 Explore selling options on our Sell a House page.
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