Find out what your home is really worth

Net proceeds are what you take home after selling your property. This number is different and almost always less than your home’s value since it accounts for costs such as real estate commissions, taxes and fees, and your outstanding mortgage.

You can calculate a home's value through a free online valuation tool, hiring an appraiser, or working with a real estate agent to get a comparative analysis. Free online home value calculators look at transactions in your area and public data to generate an estimate. But, if you’re looking for a more accurate number, you’ll need to work with a real estate professional who will look at your property’s condition, the market trends in your area, and other factors to calculate your home’s worth. The most common method for determining home value involves an analysis of comparable sales. With this approach, recently sold homes similar to yours in size, age, and condition are identified as “comps,” which serve as a baseline for calculating your own home’s worth. Any differences in your home that would add or subtract value, such as an extra bedroom or aging roof, will factor into the calculation. There are different ways to gather the data and information necessary for this type of analysis. Online tools will pull from publicly available records, gather real estate transaction data, and ask users to share updates about their property. An algorithm is able to make sense of those numbers instantly, resulting in a real-time valuation. A real estate agent will be able to go a step further and access comps from their local MLS and even conduct a walkthrough of the property. These steps give them greater insights into the area and the ability to provide you with a comprehensive comparative market analysis (CMA). Appraisers typically work from the Uniform Residential Appraisal Report and will physically measure the interior and exterior of the home in an onsite visit to make sure the public records are accurate.