How to Look Up What a House Is Worth
Published by Cash Flow Deals · Last updated 2026-08-05 · Published and reviewed for compliance by Camilo Palacio, a Florida Licensed Realtor
A house worth lookup can mean three different things. Your county property appraiser's site shows a public assessed value used for tax purposes, which is not the same as market value. An automated estimate site gives you an instant market-value guess. An agent's MLS sold history shows what similar homes actually closed for. Each answers a slightly different question, and none of them replaces a real offer.
| Factor | Traditional Route | Cash Flow Deals |
|---|---|---|
| What you're looking up | A public assessed value, an algorithm's estimate, or MLS sold history | A direct written offer for your specific home |
| Who can access it | Assessed value is public, MLS sold history usually requires an agent | Open to any homeowner who requests it |
| How current it is | Assessed values often update annually, estimates update continuously | Based on your home's condition right now |
Public property records: free but not market value
Every U.S. county maintains a property appraiser or tax assessor office, and its site is a free lookup for your address. What it shows is an assessed value used to calculate property taxes, which frequently differs from what your home would actually sell for.
Automated lookup tools: fast but a range, not a fact
Sites like Zillow and Redfin let you type in an address and get an instant market-value estimate. It's built from the same public records plus recent comparable sales, and it carries the same limitation: no one involved has seen the inside of the house.
MLS sold history: the most accurate lookup, agent-gated
The Multiple Listing Service holds the fullest, most current record of what homes actually closed for, including details public records don't capture. Full access typically requires working with a licensed real estate agent.
What a lookup can't tell you about condition
None of these lookups know if your roof needs replacing or your kitchen was just renovated. Every lookup method is built on the assumption of average condition unless someone corrects it in person.
Turning a lookup into a real number
A lookup answers 'what's typical nearby.' A written cash offer answers 'what is my specific home worth today.' Cash Flow Deals sends someone to see the property and skips straight to the second question.
Common questions
Is my county's assessed value the same as market value?
No. Assessed value is calculated for property tax purposes and often lags behind or differs from what a home would actually sell for on the open market.
Can anyone look up MLS sold history?
Full MLS access is generally limited to licensed real estate professionals, though some of that data is shared publicly through consumer-facing real estate sites.
How often does my county update assessed values?
Assessment schedules vary by county, but many reassess property values on an annual or multi-year cycle rather than continuously.
Why does an automated lookup show a range instead of one number?
Some tools show a confidence range because the underlying data, especially for off-market homes, supports a spread of likely values rather than one precise figure.
What's the fastest way to get an exact number instead of a lookup?
Requesting a written cash offer based on an actual walkthrough gets you a specific number rather than an estimated range.
Keep reading
What this means for your options
A value estimate is a starting point, not a guaranteed number. Our process tests your home against the real market -- real buyers, real comps -- before you commit to a price.
Wait and see
Keep the property as-is and hope conditions improve. The mortgage, insurance, and upkeep keep costing money while you wait, with no set date for things to turn around.
List with a traditional agent
Standard MLS listing, typically 5-6% in commission, and a financed buyer whose deal depends on appraisal, inspection, and lender approval — any of which can fall through after weeks on market.
Sell to Cash Flow Deals
No repairs, no showings, no financing contingency on your side — our novation structure connects you with a bank-financed buyer at a price locked at signing. Usually within one business day.
See your selling options before you decide anything.