Ar_home_b_search
 

Like fellow Colorado Springs Realtors of Selley Group Real Estate, LLC, we’ve all felt great frustration regarding the enormous inaccuracies about values and inventory supply that have been reported by Zillow.com. As the consumer becomes more educated about the real estate markets, his or her expectations about negotiations regarding purchase prices also increases.

Specifically related to Zillow.com, their information has caused a lot of confusion for my relocation buyers, investors and sellers regarding the true status of listing inventory, as well as the actual values of Colorado Springs homes. Personally, as a Colorado Springs Realtor, I typically see Zillow.com downgrading home values between 11-15% of what is the actual value. Apparently, I’m not the only one who has seen this type of discrepancy associated with their statistical data.

Recently, this scenario played out furiously for the Denver Metro area. According to Becky Hurley of the Colorado Springs Business Journal, “In a head-to-head comparison, the state’s real estate community pointed out that the Metrolist, a company that collects and measures Colorado data, showed a for-sale inventory of 20,073. That was less than half the 42,000 unsold properties reported as “unsold” by Zillow.com for the year ending January 2010.”

According to Forbes’ Francesca Levy, “Forbes.com will no longer use Zillow.com’s information.” For accurate information about the Colorado Springs Real Estate market, please don’t hesitate to contact me.

Feel free to contact our Colorado Springs Realtors at Selley Group Real Estate, LLC:

2139 Chuckwagon Rd, Ste 210 - Colorado Springs, Colorado 80919 - 719. 598. 5101

 
This post has been included in Colorado Real Estate News El Paso County, CO Real Estate News Colorado Springs, CO Real Estate News
Post is included in group: Dedicated Bloggers
Post is included in group: Diary of a Realtor
Post is included in group: Posts to Localism
Post is included in group: Realtors®
Post is included in group: The Lounge at Active Rain

16 Comments on Zillow Finally Got Zinged in Colorado

APR
21
2010
214,038 Points Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Cherise, I have had several clients ask me about Zillow as they were using that as their guide to make offers and evalutate list prices.  I looked up on Zillow a lot of the properties that I had been comping out and found major, major discrepancies in price. 

Any follow up posts would be appreciated.

 

8:27pm • #1
579,208 Points 61 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog Called Shot Master

I am glad they got Zinged...Forbes made a terrible mistake in using data from Zillow. Around here neighborhoods turn on a dime.  Post office address often has nothing to do with municipality and its confusing enough for buyers (particularly those who are not local) without having Zillow lump listings from two municipalities together because of zip code or/and post office address.

11:37pm • #2
APR
22
2010
137,237 Points 1 Featured Post Localism Sponsor Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Hi Cherise, I always get asked about Zillow and it is pretty consistent with the home values here as well. They always are about 11-15% on the downside.

12:45am • #3
505,513 Points 31 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Yeah, glad to hear that.  I tell my clients that if they want acurate information doesn't it make sense to go to a LOCAL source rather than an Internet program?  Very good post.  I am going to flag it for a feature.

9:03am • #4
451,538 Points 5 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp

Bruce, if I here anything else, I'll let you know.  I'm not against Zillow and its company concept.  I'm against reporting serious inaccuracies that are emotionally injurious to those consumers who are trying to figure out this next step in their lives.  Cherise

5:17pm • #5
451,538 Points 5 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp

Ruthmarie - Well said by you and seems to be common opinion among many in this profession.

5:18pm • #6
451,538 Points 5 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp

Tiffany - wouldn't it be nice if they were to error on the upside?  

5:19pm • #7
451,538 Points 5 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp

Paula - Local is the best way to go.  I agree with you.  Aren't we having enough struggles to close contracts with arguable differences of value from appraisers about our local markets?  Who needs false reporting from large internet companies?

5:20pm • #8
APR
23
2010
781,899 Points 71 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

We have the same issues here in Mass as well. It seems as though buyers and sellers here now understand that this is not the best indicator of value though. I remeember vividly what a nightmare it was when it 1st came out!

6:53am • #9
451,538 Points 5 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp

Bill - Ditto.  I'm glad the mayor of Denver as well as some frustrated brokers took their issues straight to Forbes.  Cherise

10:31am • #10
APR
25
2010
896,762 Points 20 Featured Posts Outside Blog

This is worth a re-blog. Many think the data on a site like zillow is accurate and it can really mess up an area...

your friend in Charlottesville Virginia!

7:33am • #11
896,762 Points 20 Featured Posts Outside Blog

I hope it is OK with you that I also reposted with credit to you on my main blog at:

Charlottesville Real Estate Blog

If there is a problem please let me know by email and I will certainly remove it.

Just a very timely post for our area too...

thanks, Charles

8:23am • #13
1,215,833 Points 44 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Hi Cherise - Is is possible that Metrolist and Zillow are simply defining "for-sale" and "unsold" differently? It looks to me like there could be 20,000 homes on the market, and another 22,000 in escrow. In that case, both numbers are still accurate, it's just a case of educating the consumer on what they mean.

12:58pm • #14
451,538 Points 5 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp

John, there is the questions of definition about for sale and unsold.  Plus, Zillow can't keep up with the current record keeping about sales.  Overall, Zillow has been sorely inaccurate about the markets.  

8:55pm • #15
451,538 Points 5 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp

Charles, I'm glad that you re-blogged this one.  

8:56pm • #16

What does the graphic say?

Leave a response…



(optional)
What does the graphic say?
 
Img_8645 Rainmaker_large

Colorado Springs Realtor ® - Cherise Selley

Colorado Springs, CO

More about me…

Selley Group Real Estate, LLC

Address: 2139 Chuckwagon Rd. Suite 210, Colorado Springs, CO, 80919

Office Phone: (719) 598-5101

Cell Phone: (719) 337-9779

Email Me



Listings

Links

Archives

RSS 2.0 Feed for this blog