Where to look for your home's current value

Your home's current value is available through several free sources, and you do not need to hire an appraiser to find a rough estimate. The most common places to check are Zillow, Redfin, Trulia, and Realtor.com — all of which publish estimates based on recent sales of similar homes in your area, property tax records, and home characteristics you can verify yourself.

Your county assessor's office also maintains a public record of your home's assessed value, which is used for property taxes. This value is often lower than market value, but it is an official number tied to your actual property record. You can find your county assessor's website by searching "[your county name] assessor" or by visiting your county government's main website.

A third option is to contact a local real estate agent and ask for a comparative market analysis (CMA). Agents prepare these for free as part of their business — they show what homes like yours sold for recently in your neighborhood. This is more detailed than an online estimate because an agent can account for upgrades, condition, and local factors that algorithms sometimes miss.

Key Takeaways

  • Free online tools like Zillow and Redfin show estimated home values based on recent sales and public records, though these estimates can be off by 5 to 10 percent or more depending on your area.
  • Your county assessor's office publishes the assessed value of your home, which is a public record you can look up for free online or in person.
  • A real estate agent will prepare a comparative market analysis at no cost, showing what similar homes sold for recently in your neighborhood.
  • The most accurate value comes from a professional appraisal, which costs $300 to $500 and is ordered by a lender or paid for out of pocket.

How online estimates work and what they miss

Online home value tools use a formula that looks at recent sales of homes with similar square footage, lot size, age, and number of bedrooms and bathrooms in your zip code or neighborhood. They pull this data from public records, multiple listing services (MLS), and previous sales. The tool then adjusts for differences — a home with an extra bathroom or a newer roof might be worth more — and produces an estimate.

These estimates are useful for a rough sense of value, but they have real limits. They cannot see inside your home, so they do not know if your kitchen was renovated last year or if your roof is failing. They also struggle in neighborhoods where homes vary widely — a tool might not account for the fact that your street has a view while the next street over does not. In hot markets where homes sell quickly and prices change fast, the estimate can lag behind reality by weeks or months.

Most online tools show a range rather than a single number — for example, $450,000 to $480,000 — which reflects this uncertainty. The wider the range, the less confident the tool is. If you see a very narrow range in a neighborhood where homes actually vary a lot in price, that is a sign the estimate may be less reliable.

What your county assessor's value actually means

Your county assessor determines the assessed value of your home for property tax purposes. This is not the same as market value — it is usually lower, sometimes significantly. The assessed value is what your property taxes are based on, so it matters for your tax bill, but it does not tell you what your home would sell for today.

Assessed values are updated on a schedule that varies by state and county — some reassess every year, others every three to five years. If your home has not been reassessed recently, the assessed value may be well below the current market value. You can find your assessed value by visiting your county assessor's website, searching for your address, and looking for the "assessed value" or "appraised value" line on the property record. Some counties also mail you this information with your property tax bill.

If you believe your assessed value is wrong — for example, if it is much higher than similar homes in your area — you can file a formal challenge called an assessment appeal. The process and deadline vary by state, so check your county assessor's website for instructions.

Getting a comparative market analysis from a real estate agent

A comparative market analysis (CMA) is a report that shows what homes similar to yours have sold for in the past three to six months. An agent prepares this by looking at actual sales in your neighborhood, not estimates. They compare homes that are truly similar — same number of bedrooms, similar condition, similar lot size — and adjust for differences. If your home has a finished basement and the comparable home does not, the agent might add value to account for that.

To get a CMA, contact two or three local real estate agents and ask if they will prepare one. Most will, because they are hoping you will list your home with them. You do not have to commit to anything — a CMA is a standard service agents offer to potential sellers. The agent will usually want to walk through your home to see its condition, but some will prepare a basic version based on photos and your description.

A CMA is more reliable than an online estimate for most people because it is based on actual sales, not algorithms, and because an agent can see your home and account for things a computer cannot. The downside is that it takes a few days to a week, whereas an online estimate is instant.

When you need a professional appraisal

A professional appraisal is an official assessment of your home's value, conducted by a licensed appraiser. It is more detailed and more expensive than other methods — typically $300 to $500 — but it is the most accurate value available. Appraisers are trained to inspect homes thoroughly, compare them to recent sales, and account for condition, upgrades, and local factors.

You need a professional appraisal if you are refinancing your mortgage, taking out a home equity loan, or selling your home and want an official value for legal or financial purposes. Some people also order an appraisal before listing a home for sale, so they know what price to ask for. If you are simply curious about your home's value for personal reasons, an appraisal is usually not necessary — an online estimate or CMA will give you enough information.

To order an appraisal, contact a local appraisal company or ask your lender for a referral. If you are refinancing, your lender will order the appraisal and charge you for it. If you are paying out of pocket, get quotes from two or three appraisers before choosing one.

How to verify the information you enter online

Online home value tools ask you to confirm details about your home — square footage, number of bedrooms, lot size, year built, and whether you have a garage or pool. The accuracy of the estimate depends partly on whether this information is correct. If the tool has wrong data from public records, you can usually edit it.

Before you do, check your actual property record to make sure you have the right numbers. Your property record is available from your county assessor's office and shows the official square footage, lot size, number of bedrooms, and other details. If the online tool's numbers do not match your property record, update the tool's information. This will not change your official record, but it will make the estimate more accurate.

Be honest about your home's condition when you enter information. If the tool asks whether your roof, plumbing, or HVAC system is in good condition, answer accurately. Overstating condition will inflate the estimate, and you will not get a useful number.

Why different sources give different values

It is normal to see different values from Zillow, Redfin, your county assessor, and a real estate agent. Each source uses different data and different methods. Zillow might show $475,000, Redfin might show $465,000, your assessor might show $420,000, and an agent's CMA might show a range of $460,000 to $490,000. These are not contradictions — they are different estimates based on different information.

Online tools sometimes disagree because they weight recent sales differently or because one tool has more recent data than another. An agent's CMA might be higher because the agent saw your home in person and knows about recent upgrades. Your assessor's value is lower because it is based on a different purpose — property taxes, not market value.

If you see a wide spread across sources, that usually means the market in your area is changing fast, homes vary a lot in price, or your home has features that are hard to compare. In that case, a professional appraisal or a CMA from a knowledgeable local agent is more reliable than any single online estimate.

Frequently Asked Questions

How often do online home value estimates update?

Most tools update their estimates monthly or quarterly, though some update more frequently when new sales data comes in. If your home was recently sold nearby or if you made major upgrades, the estimate might change. Check the same tool again after a few weeks to see if the number has moved.

Can I use an online estimate to refinance my home?

No. Lenders require a professional appraisal, not an online estimate. An appraisal is an official document signed by a licensed appraiser, and it is the only value a lender will accept for refinancing, home equity loans, or other lending decisions.

What if the online estimate seems way too high or too low?

Check whether the tool has correct information about your home — square footage, number of bedrooms, lot size, and year built. If the data is wrong, update it. If the data is correct but the estimate still seems off, compare it to a CMA from a real estate agent or look at recent sales of similar homes in your neighborhood yourself.

Do I need to pay for a home value estimate?

No. Online tools like Zillow and Redfin are free, your county assessor's records are free, and a CMA from a real estate agent is free. You only pay if you order a professional appraisal, which costs $300 to $500.

Will checking my home's value hurt my credit score?

No. Looking up your home's value online or through your county assessor does not affect your credit. Only hard inquiries from lenders — when you apply for a mortgage or loan — can impact your credit score.