Buying
If you are buying a house, the MLS (Multiple Listing Service) is a fantastic resource. It gives you access to most of the information that realtors have, for almost all houses on the market,
including properties not yet published in the Real Estate Magazines.
Step 1: Choose the property type you are looking for (e.g., "Residential"). If
you want to choose more than one property type, scroll through the list, and hold down the [ctrl] key while
you select your additional choices.
Step 2: Enter the range of prices that
you are interested in (e.g., $350,000 to $450,000). Do not be too narrow in
your range. You can always be more specific later.
Step 3: You can click the [Next>>] button now, and all
properties that meet your criteria will be displayed, 5 at a time. Click on
the various links in the results table to see more detail.
Step 4: If you want to narrow your search, specify other features of
interest, such as the number of bedrooms, lot-size, or area of interest.
Step 5: If you want additional information on certain properties, or you want
to find properties not yet listed in the MLS, click on the "Help" link below.
Selling or RefinancingThe MLS can be a great resource for estimating the value
of your house in preparation for selling or refinancing.
Step 1: Choose the property type you are selling (e.g., "Residential").
Step 2: Enter the range of prices that
you think your house might be worth (e.g., $300,000 to $450,000). Do not be
too narrow in your range.
Step 3: Specify other features of your
house, including the number of bedrooms, lot-size, the approximate square
footage, and the area you live in. You can enter ranges, so that you will
find houses similar to yours, but not exactly the same. To select more than
one area, scroll through the list, and hold down the [ctrl] key while you
select additional options.
Step 4: Click [Next>>], and peruse
the properties that you find. Identify the houses that are most similar to
yours, and use their prices to estimate the value of your own house.
Step 5: If you want a more accurate market comparison for free,
performed by a professional, click on one of the "help" links below.
