Hello everyone:
I have just spent almost 2 hours sitting here on a friday night (i have to get a life) on this zillow.com website.
I like it when I can find out what my house is worth without doing all of the dirty work...... like looking up data from the courthouses and the mls data, like actually going through the house, like looking at the neighborhood and any adverse conditions, or property amenities that might have an impact, like taking photos all around the outside (especially in January), like working up the info after choosing which comparables to use, like wasting time typing it up and sending it out, like spending over $3 a gallon in gas........ well you get my idea. I can just sit here, throw in my address, and have an answer within seconds! They even give me comparables! And boy.... do they give you comparables!
Anybody out there I ask you to do your own house. Then! Look at the comparables they throw at you. Take a drive and look at what they have picked out for YOUR house!
Besides having a range of all size dwellings, this Zillow thing is the best advertisement WHY NOT TO USE THEM! Or anything like it, such as these AVM's, AM-FM's, ABC'S, or whatever letters they think of using.
What they ALL do is just crunch numbers and believe me, they do not, under any circumstances, do for you what even the worst appraiser does for you. What you pay for, usually is what you get. Now, in this SOFT MARKET (the term "they" use), a real valuation is so more important than ever to use. The difference in money can not even thought about, to be worth missing a more true value to you, be fair to the customer, and to help you..... make the loan!
On a side note: There is some interesting news coming out over the next few days with tax assessments and schools districts (now thats a big bucks combo!). I will update you all on it very soon. Just keep that clamp on your checkbook! Well, it is time for Seinfeld. SERENITY NOW!