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Updated over 1 year ago, 06/20/2023
Anyone making use of the Zillow API with Excel?
First post!
I really hope I haven't missed a discussion on this, I've tried doing a search on it here, and it mostly leads to discussions about how inaccurate Zillow is. :) Be that as it may, I am interested in using Zillow Zestimates, "Last Sold" values, and the most recent property tax assessment values, in a property analysis spreadsheet I am trying to put together.
Input: Homepath bulk .csv file
Output: Same file with the above Zillow information added.
I have come across a site that does this automatically, but the rates seem steep for what you get out of it. zim.ca. "Zestimates In Minutes".
I see a number of similar projects have been posted on freelancer.com, so I may just contact someone there to whip something up for me.
Looking forward to taking part in the BP community.
Here is a link to a similar project: http://johnmann.me/excel-zillow-api-extraction/
I am looking for a similar tool. Interested to see what others have come up with.
Is there still any interest in this? I think it would be very useful to programmatically sort through listings based on whether they hit financial targets like CoC or cap rate. If there aren't any tools already available, I was thinking about making one.
Y'all, google spreadsheets can do this.
I tinkered with the API after getting my ZWS ID and am getting an error in Excel. Any ideas on this?
A URL I am using to call the API is below (need to put in your ZWS-ID). This works fine when called from a browser.
http://www.zillow.com/webservice/GetUpdatedPropertyDetails.htm?zws-id=<ZWS-ID>&zpid=48749425
The URL above is the value of cell A1 in Excel. I enter into cell B1:
=webservice(A1)
which should invoke the URL which returns XML and put the return value into B1. Instead, I get a "#VALUE!" error and haven't found any clues as to what I am doing wrong in this very basic example. Any ideas?
Interesting thread here, any traction on any of this yet?
I built a tool that I use personally for doing quick location analysis/property estimations which I'd be happy to share, though it's pretty catered to my own needs right now!
I was able to get the APIs working from home, but not at the office. They don't work if there is a proxy server involved if you are calling from Excel.
Ultimately, I gave up. Two of the critical pieces of data I wanted were current price and listing status. They seem to be unavailable due to legal restriction according to the message I was getting back. I was able to get the basic property data. I don't know if they have a fee on the API for current price and listing status - I didn't look.
I gave up for a 2nd reason: some of the data was coming back wrong. I would look at a Zillow page and it would show the house was built in 1920. The API data came back as 1950. I noticed a few other differences and guessed the API is very buggy or has a different data source than the Zillow pages. That shook my confidence - no point in using the service if I have to manually verify and edit the data.
Thanks for the follow-up.
Wow, well at least you were able to catch it. And I would imagine you would need MLS to get at a reliable listing status/price? Surprised the housing details were off, though; that's unfortunate.
If anyone is still interested, there's a chrome extension called RE-Helper that pulls data from a listing and runs it through a calculator. Just works on zillow now.
https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/re-helper/bbdlndhhhkfafaeofaecinfhcpafbnpe?hl=en
@Scott Purser It looks like the link is not working.
The webpage at https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/re-helper/bbdlndhhhkfafaeofaecinfhcpafbnpe?hl=en might be temporarily down or it may have moved permanently to a new web address.
ERR_TUNNEL_CONNECTION_FAILED
Check out https://www.homey-llc.com/
Made this after researching/purchasing rental properties in Nashville.
It’s basically a tool that works with the Zillow api for price/rent and analyzes a property based on (1) location-specific metrics (appreciation rate, tax rate, insurance) and (2) customary expenses (vacancy, prop mgmt, r&m, capex). Also, all the drivers are adjustable within a downloadable google sheet.
Can also download to excel if you want to tinker with it offline.
Let me know what you guys think; would love any feedback from this group!
I am a big fan of excel, and use extensive macros and add-ons. You may just want to hire a coder to write a macro in VBA. I have never used Zillow, but it seems like a pretty solid tool.
Hi Brendan Carroll,
My name is Edidson, I am new to BiggerPockets. I recently saw an old post by you (a copy of your post at the bottom).
That post catches my attention because I have been looking for a similar tool for my researches.
Question: have you find something like what you asked in your post?
Thanks
“First post!
I really hope I haven't missed a discussion on this, I've tried doing a search on it here, and it mostly leads to discussions about how inaccurate Zillow is. :) Be that as it may, I am interested in using Zillow Zestimates, "Last Sold" values, and the most recent property tax assessment values, in a property analysis spreadsheet I am trying to put together.
Input: Homepath bulk .csv file
Output: Same file with the above Zillow information added.
I have come across a site that does this automatically, but the rates seem steep for what you get out of it. zim.ca. "Zestimates In Minutes".
I see a number of similar projects have been posted on freelancer.com, so I may just contact someone there to whip something up for me.
Looking forward to taking part in the BP community.”
I hate to bust you guys bubble but I just finishing a python program that pulls data from the zillow api...I was getting on here to find out if there are better options because it's not really all that great of info. The differences in numbers between zillow and other sites are scary...
