Until recently I’ve been very critical of Zillow’s zestimates, terming them useless and worse. Dangerous really, because so often they were so off target, yet people were using them to value their own homes and homes they were interested in buying.
But more recently I’ve noticed that zestimates have improved and are more accurate than they were. And I said so – HERE But the question is, are they accurate enough to start using them as a guide to home prices here in the foothills.
I’ve gotten some pretty awful ‘professional appraisals’ lately – and many other agents have as well - and they cost $500 or more, but they’re also way more dangerous than a zestimate. They’re lethal really. Because everyone, including the lender, regards them as the sacred source for reliable home valuations. And often they’re not at all accurate or reliable, and often they’re not even close. And much of that is thanks to the really smart, fair and efficient new system we’re stuck with for choosing appraisers that’s been imposed by Obama-Dodd-Frank. We often end up with an appraiser who’s never stepped foot in the foothills, or who has barely. Someone who, if you spun them around, couldn’t find their way from Craycroft to Swan without a map and a compass. And that’s who’s been anointed to value the highest dollar transaction of your lifetime. Don’t get me started.
So back to zillow, here’s another look at the actual sold price vs. the zestimate on a dozen homes that sold since March 1 in the Tucson Foothills. And I think zillow’s doing pretty good, but you be the judge,
4927 N Louis River Way Tucson, AZ 85718
sold – $385,000
Z – $376,200 (home run)
6745 N Shadow Run Drive Tucson, AZ 85704
sold – $425,000 (btw, sold for list price)
Z - $391,400
6306 N Calle Del Halcon Tucson, AZ 85718
sold – $463,100
Z - $464,200 (out of the park)
4750 N Calle Desecada Tucson, AZ 85718
sold – $482,500
Z – $354,600 (struck out)
2681 E Miraval Place Tucson, AZ 85718
sold – $500,000
Z – $492,400 (home run)
6752 N Altos Primero Tucson, AZ 85718
sold – $595,000
Z - $629,900
4949 N Camino Antonio Tucson, AZ 85718
sold – $700,000
Z - $1,008,800 oh, if only it were true
6456 N Desert Wind Circle , Tucson, AZ 85750
sold – $925,000
Z - $831,100 (no cigar)
1886 E Quiet Canyon Drive , Tucson, AZ 85718
sold – $950,000
Z – $844,900 (yourrrre out)
5122 N Soledad Primera Tucson, AZ 85718
sold – $900,000
Z - $865,200 (triple)
4803 E PLACITA PROVIDA Tucson, AZ 85718
sold – $1,010,000
Z - $930,700
1347 E Desert Garden Drive Tucson, AZ 85718
sold – $1,075,000
Z – $1,028,000 (home run)
see thefoothillsToday.com
to find your Tucson Foothills home
