What's Up With Zillow Comps?

Until recently, zillow would generate a long list of recent sales that were genuinely near a selected property to be compared, and could be arranged in closing date or price or some other order. Now zillow is much more opaque about how it chooses comps, it gives you far, far fewer of them, the comps are far more geographically dispersed to the point of uselessness, its algorithm for selection is a mystery, and lord knows what the “zestimate” means now, if it ever meant anything.

Anyone know what is going on? More importantly, anyone know a secret to get zillow to generate a decent list of recent nearby sales the way it used to do? Or which other website does a better job at this?

slopefarm

in General Discussion 8 years and 6 months ago

8

Please log in, in order to post replies!

8 replies

Newest Oldest

EJR | 8 years and 6 months ago

string(1) "1"
object(WP_User)#4925 (8) {
  ["data"]=>
  object(stdClass)#4913 (12) {
    ["ID"]=>
    string(5) "79362"
    ["user_login"]=>
    string(3) "EJR"
    ["user_pass"]=>
    string(34) "$P$B.h6vu7ImM77fV6j0TvRwlieo3mAr4/"
    ["user_nicename"]=>
    string(3) "ejr"
    ["user_email"]=>
    string(19) "ejrothman@gmail.com"
    ["user_url"]=>
    string(46) "http://bstoner.wpengine.com/forums/users/ejr2/"
    ["user_registered"]=>
    string(19) "2017-08-10 14:30:58"
    ["user_activation_key"]=>
    string(0) ""
    ["user_status"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["display_name"]=>
    string(3) "EJR"
    ["spam"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["deleted"]=>
    string(1) "0"
  }
  ["ID"]=>
  int(79362)
  ["caps"]=>
  array(2) {
    ["subscriber"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["cap_key"]=>
  string(15) "wp_capabilities"
  ["roles"]=>
  array(2) {
    [0]=>
    string(10) "subscriber"
    [1]=>
    string(15) "bbp_participant"
  }
  ["allcaps"]=>
  array(4) {
    ["read"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["level_0"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["subscriber"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["filter"]=>
  NULL
  ["site_id":"WP_User":private]=>
  int(1)
}

Consider paying for a property shark membership. It’s a treasure trove of data. I used it recently to find comps to support an appraisal for a mortgage refi and was impressed by the available information.

chemosphere | 8 years and 6 months ago

string(1) "1"
object(WP_User)#4924 (8) {
  ["data"]=>
  object(stdClass)#4923 (12) {
    ["ID"]=>
    string(6) "180501"
    ["user_login"]=>
    string(11) "chemosphere"
    ["user_pass"]=>
    string(34) "$P$Bym7xqSisQdtaWFx8p2q7DWXNAtg0D/"
    ["user_nicename"]=>
    string(11) "chemosphere"
    ["user_email"]=>
    string(19) "jg@jacobgarchik.com"
    ["user_url"]=>
    string(0) ""
    ["user_registered"]=>
    string(19) "2017-08-10 14:09:44"
    ["user_activation_key"]=>
    string(0) ""
    ["user_status"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["display_name"]=>
    string(11) "chemosphere"
    ["spam"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["deleted"]=>
    string(1) "0"
  }
  ["ID"]=>
  int(180501)
  ["caps"]=>
  array(1) {
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["cap_key"]=>
  string(15) "wp_capabilities"
  ["roles"]=>
  array(1) {
    [0]=>
    string(15) "bbp_participant"
  }
  ["allcaps"]=>
  array(1) {
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["filter"]=>
  NULL
  ["site_id":"WP_User":private]=>
  int(1)
}

I think you have to use Streeteasy’s “Generate comparables report” function, different from recent sales. They sort of hid it. http://streeteasy.com/nyc/comparables_reports/new/nyc/type:X,M%7Carea:367,319%7Cprice:$1,250,000-$3,500,000?closing_age=%253C150&excluded_closings=&excluded_listings=&listing_type=Sale

slopefarm | 8 years and 6 months ago

string(1) "1"
object(WP_User)#4920 (8) {
  ["data"]=>
  object(stdClass)#4841 (12) {
    ["ID"]=>
    string(3) "655"
    ["user_login"]=>
    string(9) "slopefarm"
    ["user_pass"]=>
    string(34) "$P$BK7dzbqXJe9TV6iU0glcNZiXdOt9CR1"
    ["user_nicename"]=>
    string(9) "slopefarm"
    ["user_email"]=>
    string(18) "jrubin@law.nyc.gov"
    ["user_url"]=>
    string(24) "/forums/users/slopefarm/"
    ["user_registered"]=>
    string(19) "2017-08-10 14:11:42"
    ["user_activation_key"]=>
    string(0) ""
    ["user_status"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["display_name"]=>
    string(9) "slopefarm"
    ["spam"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["deleted"]=>
    string(1) "0"
  }
  ["ID"]=>
  int(655)
  ["caps"]=>
  array(2) {
    ["subscriber"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["cap_key"]=>
  string(15) "wp_capabilities"
  ["roles"]=>
  array(2) {
    [0]=>
    string(10) "subscriber"
    [1]=>
    string(15) "bbp_participant"
  }
  ["allcaps"]=>
  array(4) {
    ["read"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["level_0"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["subscriber"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["filter"]=>
  NULL
  ["site_id":"WP_User":private]=>
  int(1)
}

Yeah, I just searched for recent sales. Set parameters as Park Slope & Greenwood, house, $1.25-$3.5m, any size, number rooms, BRs etc., and it showed me exactly one sale in the last five months. Weird. Which leads me back to my original question — who has good, searchable recent sales data.

chemosphere | 8 years and 6 months ago

string(1) "1"
object(WP_User)#4925 (8) {
  ["data"]=>
  object(stdClass)#4932 (12) {
    ["ID"]=>
    string(6) "180501"
    ["user_login"]=>
    string(11) "chemosphere"
    ["user_pass"]=>
    string(34) "$P$Bym7xqSisQdtaWFx8p2q7DWXNAtg0D/"
    ["user_nicename"]=>
    string(11) "chemosphere"
    ["user_email"]=>
    string(19) "jg@jacobgarchik.com"
    ["user_url"]=>
    string(0) ""
    ["user_registered"]=>
    string(19) "2017-08-10 14:09:44"
    ["user_activation_key"]=>
    string(0) ""
    ["user_status"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["display_name"]=>
    string(11) "chemosphere"
    ["spam"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["deleted"]=>
    string(1) "0"
  }
  ["ID"]=>
  int(180501)
  ["caps"]=>
  array(1) {
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["cap_key"]=>
  string(15) "wp_capabilities"
  ["roles"]=>
  array(1) {
    [0]=>
    string(15) "bbp_participant"
  }
  ["allcaps"]=>
  array(1) {
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["filter"]=>
  NULL
  ["site_id":"WP_User":private]=>
  int(1)
}

Streeteasy has also been removing useful data. They used to list building and lot dimensions. The also used to have a “recent sales” tab which included houses that sold but weren’t on the open market. All gone now.

slopefarm | 8 years and 6 months ago

string(1) "1"
object(WP_User)#4841 (8) {
  ["data"]=>
  object(stdClass)#4924 (12) {
    ["ID"]=>
    string(3) "655"
    ["user_login"]=>
    string(9) "slopefarm"
    ["user_pass"]=>
    string(34) "$P$BK7dzbqXJe9TV6iU0glcNZiXdOt9CR1"
    ["user_nicename"]=>
    string(9) "slopefarm"
    ["user_email"]=>
    string(18) "jrubin@law.nyc.gov"
    ["user_url"]=>
    string(24) "/forums/users/slopefarm/"
    ["user_registered"]=>
    string(19) "2017-08-10 14:11:42"
    ["user_activation_key"]=>
    string(0) ""
    ["user_status"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["display_name"]=>
    string(9) "slopefarm"
    ["spam"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["deleted"]=>
    string(1) "0"
  }
  ["ID"]=>
  int(655)
  ["caps"]=>
  array(2) {
    ["subscriber"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["cap_key"]=>
  string(15) "wp_capabilities"
  ["roles"]=>
  array(2) {
    [0]=>
    string(10) "subscriber"
    [1]=>
    string(15) "bbp_participant"
  }
  ["allcaps"]=>
  array(4) {
    ["read"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["level_0"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["subscriber"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["filter"]=>
  NULL
  ["site_id":"WP_User":private]=>
  int(1)
}

Thanks. Yes, I know how to sort the wheat from the chaff as to what recent sales are truly comparable, but just surprised zillow doesn’t generate a nice big list to choose from like it used to. I know the zestimate was never a reliable number, but Zillow seems to have actually lost a lot of the good data that it used to have, for some reason. Until a month ago, it had accurate info about my house. though it had developed a nasty habit lately of letting brokers list it as a rental on the site.

Just tried free streeteasy and it seems better.

stuyheights | 8 years and 6 months ago

string(1) "1"
object(WP_User)#4932 (8) {
  ["data"]=>
  object(stdClass)#4920 (12) {
    ["ID"]=>
    string(5) "17815"
    ["user_login"]=>
    string(11) "stuyheights"
    ["user_pass"]=>
    string(0) ""
    ["user_nicename"]=>
    string(11) "stuyheights"
    ["user_email"]=>
    string(20) "biggiealex@yahoo.com"
    ["user_url"]=>
    string(0) ""
    ["user_registered"]=>
    string(19) "2008-09-29 00:15:40"
    ["user_activation_key"]=>
    string(20) "Kyzw5mBF7hhtZpsIO0VA"
    ["user_status"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["display_name"]=>
    string(11) "stuyheights"
    ["spam"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["deleted"]=>
    string(1) "0"
  }
  ["ID"]=>
  int(17815)
  ["caps"]=>
  array(0) {
  }
  ["cap_key"]=>
  string(15) "wp_capabilities"
  ["roles"]=>
  array(0) {
  }
  ["allcaps"]=>
  array(0) {
  }
  ["filter"]=>
  NULL
  ["site_id":"WP_User":private]=>
  int(1)
}

If you sign up for the paid version of street easy, which is pretty cheap, you’ll be able to print out a comparable report. The data is much better as chemo said. I use it often and find it pretty reliable.

chemosphere | 8 years and 6 months ago

string(1) "1"
object(WP_User)#4924 (8) {
  ["data"]=>
  object(stdClass)#4925 (12) {
    ["ID"]=>
    string(6) "180501"
    ["user_login"]=>
    string(11) "chemosphere"
    ["user_pass"]=>
    string(34) "$P$Bym7xqSisQdtaWFx8p2q7DWXNAtg0D/"
    ["user_nicename"]=>
    string(11) "chemosphere"
    ["user_email"]=>
    string(19) "jg@jacobgarchik.com"
    ["user_url"]=>
    string(0) ""
    ["user_registered"]=>
    string(19) "2017-08-10 14:09:44"
    ["user_activation_key"]=>
    string(0) ""
    ["user_status"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["display_name"]=>
    string(11) "chemosphere"
    ["spam"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["deleted"]=>
    string(1) "0"
  }
  ["ID"]=>
  int(180501)
  ["caps"]=>
  array(1) {
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["cap_key"]=>
  string(15) "wp_capabilities"
  ["roles"]=>
  array(1) {
    [0]=>
    string(15) "bbp_participant"
  }
  ["allcaps"]=>
  array(1) {
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["filter"]=>
  NULL
  ["site_id":"WP_User":private]=>
  int(1)
}

Streeteasy, owned by zillow but much better data. But really the best way is to hand generate your own list of comps just by making a spreadsheet with recent sales.
The zestimate never worked for NYC because it never accounted for all of our crazy specific factors we have here that contribute to how something is priced.

slopefarm | 8 years and 6 months ago

string(1) "1"
object(WP_User)#4841 (8) {
  ["data"]=>
  object(stdClass)#4931 (12) {
    ["ID"]=>
    string(3) "655"
    ["user_login"]=>
    string(9) "slopefarm"
    ["user_pass"]=>
    string(34) "$P$BK7dzbqXJe9TV6iU0glcNZiXdOt9CR1"
    ["user_nicename"]=>
    string(9) "slopefarm"
    ["user_email"]=>
    string(18) "jrubin@law.nyc.gov"
    ["user_url"]=>
    string(24) "/forums/users/slopefarm/"
    ["user_registered"]=>
    string(19) "2017-08-10 14:11:42"
    ["user_activation_key"]=>
    string(0) ""
    ["user_status"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["display_name"]=>
    string(9) "slopefarm"
    ["spam"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["deleted"]=>
    string(1) "0"
  }
  ["ID"]=>
  int(655)
  ["caps"]=>
  array(2) {
    ["subscriber"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["cap_key"]=>
  string(15) "wp_capabilities"
  ["roles"]=>
  array(2) {
    [0]=>
    string(10) "subscriber"
    [1]=>
    string(15) "bbp_participant"
  }
  ["allcaps"]=>
  array(4) {
    ["read"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["level_0"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["subscriber"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["filter"]=>
  NULL
  ["site_id":"WP_User":private]=>
  int(1)
}

Forget it. Zillow is now an absurdity. thinks my house is 1000 square feet and compared with both a Sackett Street brownstone and something out in bensonhurst. So what is everyone using these days and is Zillow another victim of Putin’s hacking?