How to find comps without MLS account

[Hassan Oukacha]

How can I get comps, both sale and rent comps, for single and MF properties without having access to MLS? and without being a real estate agent. Any recommendation is highly appreciated. Than you

[Fred Heller]

The above replies are incorrect. Texas is a non-disclosure state. Sales prices are not public information and not available online, except through MLS.

If you go to the appraisal district website, you will find the county's appraised value of the home, which rarely reflects the actual market value of the home. 

Zillow and Trulia are unreliable for the same reason. They don't have the actual sales data. It's just an estimate.

For rentals, it depends on the type of rental. MLS is pretty good for single family comps because most people list their home with a Realtor. For apartments, especially larger complexes, not so much. Those apartment complexes usually have an in-office leasing staff and don't use a Realtor.

When I'm trying to price an apartment, I'll go to MLS first and pull those comps. Then I'll go to apartments.com and pull up similar available rentals in the area. That will give me a ballpark figure for what similar apartments are renting for in the area.