Home Values & Pricing
How do I find out what my home is worth?
By Steve Lockhart
The short answer
Your home is worth something close to what comparable homes in your community have actually sold for recently, adjusted for your specifics. Every method of finding your value is really an attempt to get that comparison right, and the methods differ mostly in how much evidence they can see.
Full answer
Your home is worth something close to what comparable homes in your community have actually sold for recently, adjusted for your specifics. Every method of finding your value is really an attempt to get that comparison right, and the methods differ mostly in how much evidence they can see.
Online estimates are the fastest place to start. They run public records, tax data, and nearby sales through a model and give you a range in seconds. The tradeoff is that the model has never walked your home. It does not know about a remodeled kitchen, a dated bathroom, deferred maintenance, a view, or how much supply is sitting in your community right now. Treat the estimate as a starting range, not a conclusion.
Your county records are another free check, but use them carefully. The assessed value the county assigns is for property tax purposes, and it is not the same as market value. In Nevada the assessment follows a formula the county applies to all properties, so it can lag the market in both directions.
The most accurate reading you can get before a buyer is involved is a comparative market analysis. An agent pulls the actual sales in your area over the last few months, filters for homes that are genuinely comparable, adjusts for differences in size, condition, lot, and features, and comes back with a defensible range. That is the same evidence an appraiser works from, framed for the real question: what could I realistically get if I sold.
Where money is involved, the lender orders a licensed appraisal, a formal estimate performed under professional standards. You do not need one to know your value, but you will meet it if you refinance or sell to a financed buyer.
The honest order is: check a couple of online estimates, then get a current CMA built for your exact address, and treat the range it produces as the number to plan with.
Go a little deeper
Frequently asked
Questions homeowners often follow up on
Can I trust the online estimate for my address?
As a first glance, usually yes, it puts you in the right area. As a number to price against, no. The model cannot assess your condition, your upgrades, or the freshest sales in your grid. Use it as a range, then verify it against current comparable sales before you plan.
Does the county assessed value tell me what my home is worth?
No. The assessed value is the county's formula for property tax, not what a buyer would pay. It can sit well above or below market value, and it moves on the county's schedule, not the market's. Treat it as a tax number only.
How often should I run a new number?
A value can shift noticeably within a few months when rates or inventory move. If you are actively planning a sale, refinance, or a big decision, get a fresh number built from recent sales. A value from last season can already be stale for the way you price or negotiate.
The Lockhart Method
The Lockhart Method
Your Home | My Strategy | Proven Results
My strategy: never let you plan on a guess. We build your number from current comparable sales in your own area, adjust for your condition and upgrades, and then talk about what the number means for your situation. No website range and no pressure, just the evidence behind a price you can trust.
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