Where to look for your home's current value
The fastest way to find your home's value is to check a real estate website that pulls data from public records. Zillow, Redfin, and Realtor.com all show estimated values (called "Zestimates" on Zillow) based on recent sales of similar homes in your area, property taxes, and other public information. These estimates update regularly and are free to view — you just search for your address.
The number you see on these sites is not official. It is an estimate, and it can be off by thousands of dollars depending on your neighborhood and how recently homes have sold nearby. But it gives you a starting point and shows you the range other people think your home is worth.
Your county assessor's office also has a value on file — this is the assessed value used to calculate your property taxes. You can find it by searching your county assessor's website (usually named "[County Name] Assessor" or "[County Name] Property Appraiser") and entering your address. This value is often lower than market value because assessors do not always update it every year.
Key Takeaways
- Real estate websites like Zillow and Redfin show free estimated values based on public sales data, though these estimates can vary by thousands of dollars.
- Your county assessor's office has an official assessed value used for property taxes, which you can find by searching your county's website.
- A professional appraisal from a licensed appraiser is the most accurate way to know your home's value, but it costs money and takes time.
- Recent sales of similar homes (called "comps") in your neighborhood are the strongest indicator of what your home is actually worth.
- Your home's value changes based on local market conditions, the condition of your home, and recent renovations or damage.
What a professional appraisal tells you
If you need an exact value — for a refinance, a home equity loan, or a legal matter — you will need a professional appraisal. A licensed appraiser visits your home, measures it, inspects its condition, and compares it to recent sales of similar homes in your area. They then write a formal report with a single value they believe is accurate.
An appraisal typically costs between $300 and $700 depending on your home's size and location. It takes one to two weeks to complete. If you are refinancing through a bank, the bank usually orders the appraisal and you pay for it as part of closing costs. If you want one on your own, you can contact a local appraisal company or ask your real estate agent for a referral.
The appraiser's value is not a may provide of what you can sell your home for, but it is the most defensible number you can have. Banks use appraisals to decide how much they will lend against your home, and courts accept them as evidence of value.
How to read "comparable sales" in your neighborhood
The homes that sold near you recently — called comps — are the strongest clue to your home's actual value. If three similar homes on your block sold for $350,000, $355,000, and $360,000 in the last three months, your home is probably worth somewhere in that range. The closer the sale, the more recent it is, and the more similar the home is to yours, the more weight it carries.
You can find recent sales by searching your county assessor's website (which lists sale prices and dates), by asking a local real estate agent, or by using Redfin's "Sold" filter to see what homes actually sold for in your area. Pay attention to the sale date — a sale from six months ago matters more than one from two years ago, because markets change.
When you look at comps, note the differences. A home that sold for $400,000 but has a new roof, updated kitchen, and finished basement is not a perfect match for your home if yours has an old roof and original kitchen. Real estate agents adjust prices up or down based on these differences, typically $5,000 to $20,000 per major feature depending on your market.
Why your home's value changes
Your home's value is not fixed. It moves with the local real estate market, which can shift month to month. If homes in your neighborhood are selling faster and for higher prices than they were six months ago, your home's value has probably gone up. If the market has slowed, values may have dropped.
Your home's individual condition also matters. A new roof, updated electrical system, or finished basement can add value. Deferred maintenance, foundation problems, or outdated systems can reduce it. Major damage from storms, floods, or fires will lower your home's value until repairs are made.
Renovations do not always add dollar-for-dollar value. A $50,000 kitchen remodel might add $30,000 to $40,000 to your home's value depending on your market and the quality of the work. A real estate agent in your area can tell you which renovations tend to pay off and which do not.
Using your county assessor's records
Your county assessor maintains a public record of your home's assessed value, the land size, the building size, the year built, and recent sales history. You can access this through your county's website — search "[Your County] Assessor" or "[Your County] Property Appraiser" and look for a "Search" or "Look Up Property" tool.
Enter your address and you will see the assessed value (used for property taxes), the last time it was assessed, and sometimes a list of recent sales. Some counties also show the property card, which lists details like the number of bedrooms, bathrooms, square footage, and lot size. This information is free and public.
The assessed value is usually lower than market value because many counties do not reassess every year. It is useful as a baseline, but it is not the same as what your home would sell for today. Use it alongside the other methods described here.
What to do if estimates seem too high or too low
If the online estimates for your home seem wrong, start by checking the details. Zillow and other sites sometimes have incorrect square footage, bedroom count, or lot size — errors that throw off the estimate. You can usually correct these details directly on the website, and the estimate will recalculate.
Next, look at the comps the site is using. If it is comparing your three-bedroom home to four-bedroom homes that sold nearby, the estimate will be too high. If it is using sales from a year ago when the market was different, the estimate may not reflect today's value. Scroll down to see which homes the algorithm used and whether they are actually similar to yours.
If you still think the estimate is off, talk to a local real estate agent. They see homes in your neighborhood sell regularly and can give you an informal opinion of value based on current market conditions. Many agents will do this for free because they hope you will list with them later. Their opinion is not an appraisal, but it is grounded in real recent sales.
When you need an appraisal versus when you do not
You need a professional appraisal if you are refinancing a mortgage, taking out a home equity loan, or involved in a legal dispute over your home's value. Banks require appraisals before they will lend. Courts accept them as evidence. For these purposes, an online estimate is not enough.
You do not need an appraisal if you are simply curious about your home's value, trying to decide whether to sell, or comparing your home to others in the neighborhood. An online estimate plus a look at recent comps will give you a reasonable sense of the range. If you want more confidence, a conversation with a local real estate agent costs nothing and can fill in the gaps.
Frequently Asked Questions
How often do online home value estimates update?
Most sites update estimates monthly or whenever new sales data becomes available in your area. Zillow updates its Zestimate when new comparable sales are recorded, property tax records change, or you correct details about your home. The frequency depends on how active your local real estate market is.
Is my county assessor's value the same as my home's market value?
No. The assessed value is used to calculate property taxes and is often lower than what your home would sell for. Some counties reassess every year, others every few years. Market value is what a buyer would pay today, which is usually higher than assessed value.
Can I use an online estimate to refinance my home?
No. Banks require a professional appraisal ordered by a licensed appraiser. Online estimates are not acceptable for lending decisions. You will need to pay for an appraisal as part of the refinance process.
What if my home has unique features that comps do not have?
Unique features — like a pool, a large lot, or a special location — make it harder to find perfect comps. A professional appraiser is trained to adjust for these differences. If you are using online estimates, look for homes with similar features and note how much the difference seems to matter in your neighborhood.
How accurate are the free estimates on Zillow and Redfin?
These estimates are usually within 5 to 10 percent of actual value in active markets with recent sales, but can be off by much more in slow markets or neighborhoods where homes rarely sell. They are a starting point, not a may provide. A professional appraisal is more accurate but costs money.