Zillow (San Antonio, Anton, Cool: for sale, foreclosures, HOA) - Texas (TX) - City-Data Forum

SAnative · 12-05-2007, 05:23 AM

I'd like to know if anyone visits this site. What are your thoughts on Zillow's accuracy for S.A.?

sapphire · 12-05-2007, 05:33 AM

Looks accurate for my house, and there's a beautiful overhead shot of my house and car in the (gasp!) driveway, and my oak tree is stunningly red/brown! Cool picture.

majormadmax · 12-05-2007, 06:10 AM

Yep, I've used it before and information-wise I find it is a bit low. I suspect it uses tax records based on the last sale of the property. for our house it shows a value that is under what we paid over two years ago, and I know our home has increased in value. The actual value is closer to the high end of the listed value range.

And the imagery is simply Windows Live Local, it is not unique to Willow.com, simply the aerial imagery program that is tied to that web site. I actually used it to get our HOA to fix a water leak along the main road in our community...it showed up on the imagery!

Cheers! M2

Aquajox · 12-05-2007, 07:12 AM

I like zillow. I used it to research approx. values of neighborhoods that I was interested in. I also like the make me move feature. You can claim your house, add pictures, and without putting it on the market, you can set a price that would make you consider moving. People interested in buying it can contact you.

banker · 12-05-2007, 07:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aquajox

I like zillow. I used it to research approx. values of neighborhoods that I was interested in. I also like the make me move feature. You can claim your house, add pictures, and without putting it on the market, you can set a price that would make you consider moving. People interested in buying it can contact you.

And it works. I have my house listed on the make me move feature and have gotten emails and lots of traffic to my listing...and it isn't even on the market. No offers though.

A friend listed his house for sale on Zillow here in San Antonio and sold it - with no realtor involved. Not bad.

The values are low though. My home is listed for about 15% less than the market value based on price/square feet in my neighborhood. I agree - I think it is using tax values and since I have lived in my house for over six years it has been a while since the last sale.

firstclassflyer · 12-05-2007, 08:18 AM

You might want to try this site as well.

Cyberhomes.com

It's similar to Zillow...but at least it gives you an additional option as opposed to using just one site.

Turtle_Mom · 12-05-2007, 12:48 PM

What an interesting site! My home is lower than those surrounding me, which is odd - but we've lived here the longest and have homestead so our taxes might be lower. I updated it, they said I had 2.5 baths, we have 2.75

I need to find a pic or take one. I did see that my house was estimated much higher earlier though

kevcrawford · 12-05-2007, 07:12 PM

HORRIBLY INACCURATE! There's a lot that determines choosing true market value for a home. Zillow and other sites take a big snapshot of a market and average things out. Running true comparables is pretty detailed. Zillow can't tell you if you have granite, a pool, a deck, and other things that add and detract from your home. It also can't tell you if two sales in your neighborhood were foreclosures, thus pulling your price down. It can't tell you if the guy next door sold his house to a family member for cash and it was 20,000 overpriced, thus raising your values. There are way too many variables.

goodmanm · 12-06-2007, 09:01 AM

It doesn't depict accurate sales information.

It does a crappy job in showing comparables.

You can add things to it though (I have a deck and added it in zillow).

I think it gives you a ball park value figure but just like the realtor stated in order to get a true sales price you need to add up all particulars of the house, area, etc. I don't think zillow does a good job of that.

Also, zillow isn't going to tell you if the place two doors down is a crack house. Someone who has been selling houses in the area would probably know that.

KimK · 12-06-2007, 09:05 AM

I have used it. I listed my home when it was for sale and actually received an inquiry or two. I think their zestimates are very low as well but it kind of gives you a view into particular neighborhoods that would otherwise take a while to investigate. Its just one of several tools. My home sold for $20,000.00 more than they had estimated its value.