Arriving at quality sold home prices is not a simple task, but one worth doing. This article will approach estimating a house’s value (sold home prices) from easiest to most difficult to most expensive.

Sold Home Prices- Simple

If you are looking for sold home prices just to know an approximation of one’s house value a simple asking of the neighbors is in order. Either what they paid or if they have had a recent appraisal. Add to those home prices, what listings are available for your neighborhood or area. Want a second opinion? Ask a real estate agent to ball park it for you through a quick tour and through comps (comparable listings). They will gladly give a close house vale estimate just to hope you will list with them.

Sold Home Prices- Labor Intensive

If you are looking for a more accurate sold home prices for a FSBO (For Sale By Owner) or another reason, one can look at court records for sold home prices. A trip to the county courthouse should be all that is needed to get the tax assessors value on your and your neighbors’ houses. Just remember many municipalities have limits on property tax increases and they may not have been able to keep up. Also, tax valuations may not have kept up due to governmental ineptitude or new housing starts have kept county assessors busy. While this worked to your benefit owning a home (lower property taxes) it could hurt you when it comes time to sell. Therefore, it is important to add your own investigation (above point of finding what neighbors have as their sold home prices) to your findings from the courthouse.

Getting a certain sold home price one must acquire formulas that home appraisers use. Some may be available online but more state approved formulas would be available in books. A trip to the library would be in order, then going over your home like you may never have before. Measuring and researching build dates, then factoring back in your findings from the courthouse. The formula should give you a true house valuation, but be sure your emotions don’t exaggerate to influence the outcome of the final number.

Sold Home Prices- Costly

Still, with all the do it yourself help in finding sold home prices, the only bankable sold home price will be one acquired from a third-party, licensed home appraiser. This is one that can be used for insuring home or a home equity home loan. However, if selling a home, wait for the buyer to bring their home appraiser (and the buyer pays for them) and see if their house valuation matches with your house valuation through comps and courthouse records. If it matches or is higher you have a deal. If lower, is it too low? If so, maybe this would be the time to get your own home appraisal. How low is too low? Double the cost of getting your home appraisal, because you can always offer to split the difference between estimates with a potential buyer.