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Mint Images/Getty Images August 16, 2022 AJ Dellinger is a contributing writer for Bankrate. AJ writes about auto loans and real estate. Michele Petry is a senior editor for Bankrate, leading the site’s real estate content. Bankrate logo The Bankrate promise
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Founded in 1976, Bankrate has a long track record of helping people make smart financial choices. We’ve maintained this reputation for over four decades by demystifying the financial decision-making process and giving people confidence in which actions to take next. Bankrate follows a strict , so you can trust that we’re putting your interests first. All of our content is authored by and edited by , who ensure everything we publish is objective, accurate and trustworthy. Buying or selling a home is one of the biggest financial decisions an individual will ever make. Our real estate reporters and editors focus on educating consumers about this life-changing transaction and how to navigate the complex and ever-changing housing market. From finding an agent to closing and beyond, our goal is to help you feel confident that you're making the best, and smartest, real estate deal possible. Bankrate logo Editorial integrity
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What is a comparative market analysis
A comparative market analysis is a compilation of data that can be used to estimate the value of a home. They are created by comparing the home in question to other similar homes in the area, in addition to many other factors. CMAs can provide both a general overview of the local market and a specific educated guess about the of a particular home, which can then be used to help set an asking price or a bidding price.
How is a CMA done
A competitive market analysis looks at homes in a given area that share many of the qualities of the home that is being sold. For example, the analysis will look at properties that share comparable lot sizes, similar and the same number of bedrooms and bathrooms. It will also take into consideration the age and condition of the property, improvements that have been made over the years, special features such as swimming pools and any other characteristics that might affect how much a buyer would be willing to pay. “It’s critical to look at a CMA from the perspective of location, view, bedroom count, bath count, property age, parking, etcetera,” says Diana Sutherlin, a real estate agent with Compass based in Jersey City, New Jersey. A CMA will also take into account the conditions of the current market, both locally and nationally. This helps to determine what the likely selling price of a house might be given the conditions that it is being sold in. Who typically creates it
The analysis is usually put together by a or broker, and usually it’s the seller’s agent, who prepares it to help determine how much a home’s asking price should be. Unlike a , which is done by a professional appraiser, a CMA is typically a more informal look at the overall market. But just because it’s not an official appraisal does not mean it’s insignificant. “Performing a quality competitive market analysis is a real skill, and it’s important how experienced an agent is,” Sutherlin says. “The more familiar an agent is with appraisers, the more accurate an agent will be in pricing.” You can perform your own comparative market analysis if you wish, whether you are hoping to go the route or simply want to get a better idea of what the current local market looks like. Lots of data is readily available on realty listing sites that the general public can access. However, there is no substitute for the experience and knowledge of a professional agent. “Online home value estimators were created from an imperfect algorithm that can never replace human knowledge of a local market and home qualities,” says Sutherlin. “Even appraisers do not have the insight necessary for accurate home values if they don’t know the market intimately.”
A comparative market analysis example
Let’s create a hypothetical CMA as an example. Imagine a that is 1,500 square feet, with three bedrooms and 1.5 bathrooms. The home has a two-car garage attached. The property is in good condition, has undergone several upgrades in the last few years and does not require any major repairs. The seller is hoping to list it for $350,000. To determine if that is a fair price, let’s look at three similar homes that have sold in the same area over the last three to six months. The first is 1,750 square feet with three bedrooms, two full bathrooms and a two-car garage and is in similar condition. It sold for $385,000. The second is 1,250 square feet with two bedrooms, 1.5 bathrooms and a one-car garage, and it needs a new roof. It sold for $300,000. The third home is 1,600 square feet with three bedrooms and 1.5 bathrooms, a one-car garage and is in good condition, though the air conditioning system is older. It sold for $335,000. With this information, a Realtor can determine the general price range for the home in question — and $350,000 is probably a pretty accurate starting point.
CMAs vs other valuation models
A comparative market analysis is not the only way that real estate experts can determine the likely value of a property. There are a number of other tools that can be used to provide a similar assessment. Comps
is a shorthand term for comparable properties in a given region, as we looked at in the above example. Looking at a range of comps can give you a better idea of the expected value of a property. But there are a lot of variables that can skew the numbers, including things that have nothing to do with the house itself, like school district and traffic noise. Comps are used in a comparative market analysis, but they are just one piece of the puzzle. Appraisals
Appraisals are assessed by licensed experts who are brought in as an objective third party to determine the fair market value of a property. Appraisers perform a walk-through of a property, then compare it to similar properties in the area. Appraisals are typically required by the mortgage lender to determine if the property is worth the amount of the loan, and they typically take place after an offer on a home has been made. Automated valuation models
, or AVMs, are like a quickie comparative market analysis performed by a computer program. (For example, Zillow’s “Zestimate.”) It takes into account details about the property and compares it to other homes in the region to determine an estimated value for the given property. These are not always accurate, though, says Sutherlin. ““Looking at home value as black and white, and without walking through a home and seeing the particulars, is very misleading for the consumer,” she says.
Should I get a CMA
In most cases, it is worth it to have your agent create a comparative market analysis. It is typically included in their services at no extra charge, and it provides an important glimpse into what your property’s value may be. While it might not be as accurate as an appraisal, it provides a very useful ballpark price range based on many different data points.
FAQs
How much does a comparative market analysis cost
In most cases, a comparative market analysis is free as part of your real estate agent’s services. In some cases, an agent may charge a nominal fee to perform one, but most of the time they will offer the service at no extra charge if you choose to work with them.
Should I get an appraisal or a comparative market analysis
While they do look at some of the same things, they are not the same thing, and you should probably get both. A CMA is a broad picture of the local market, typically created by a real estate agent, that provides a general range of a home’s value so the seller can set a reasonable asking price. An appraisal is more official, and is typically required by the lender for any home purchase that is being financed.
Why is a comparative market analysis CMA important
A CMA helps to give both buyers and sellers a solid sense of the local market. It takes into account lots of information, including details about similar properties and the general health of the market, to help determine what a property might be worth. It’s an important tool for sellers who want to get the most value from their property in terms of asking price, and it also helps buyers determine how much to offer. SHARE: AJ Dellinger is a contributing writer for Bankrate. AJ writes about auto loans and real estate. Michele Petry is a senior editor for Bankrate, leading the site’s real estate content. Related Articles