market value of a home

[Ray Gonzales]

where would y'all recommend I go to help determine the market value of a property and figure out what simular properties in it's area are selling for.

[Jon Holdman]

The trouble with using an appraiser (sorry, @Clint Dorris

In Texas public records don't have actual values. You have little choice but to use the MLS. Either get your license and pay for access or work an an agent who's willing to provide you data.

Actually doing the valuation does require doing very much what appraisers do. Find good comps (close, similar condition, similar size, similar style, etc., etc.) Make adjustments for differences. Some appraisers will do "desk appraisals". They used available data, but don't go out and measure the house and take pictures and such.

Most agents will do BPOs (broker price opinions) or CMA (comparable market analysis.) This is the same idea as an appraisal, but less formal.

As Clint points out, an appraisals is just an opinion. An important opinion, but just an opinion. An appraisal, BPO or CMA will use just a few comps. Typically 3-4 solds and 3-4 active listings. If you're doing fix and flips or wholesales its important that you look at ALL comps. Because when you sell you cannot control which comps an appraiser will choose. Situations where there are few comps, where potential comps are very different or where prices vary widely are a danger sign for an investor. Ideally you would like a neighborhood of cookie cutter houses, all alike. That doesn't happen. But the more diversity in potential comps the less likely you can accurately predict the value an appraiser will determine.