Where to find comps?

[JLMarshall]

Title Company, REALTOR®, Mortgage Professionals, and if you're lucky an Appraiser.

[wasj]

I have never found a title co. or mortgage co. that could provide true comps.  appraisals are best as they do this for a living, Realtors belonging to an association MLS are also good as they have access to the true solds listed on MLS as well as unsolds and expireds for dom and unsuccessful properties

[JLMarshall]

You need to upgrade your professionals wasj.... My title company gives comps as well as pretty little property profiles and I as a mortgage professional will either obtain myself or forward that information to any of my clients who request it.  If yours aren't you should consider upgrading.

[wasj]

JL you must be in a state other than Texas or another non disclosure state.  Here a title co. has no access to MLS, which in my opinion is the best comps source in DFW.  It is the only way to get a majority of closed sales prices.  You are fortunate you have another option.  

[JLMarshall]

Ah I see..... you are correct, I am not in TX.

[DealMakerGH]

I am currently studying to get a real estate license so that I can join my local board of realtors and have access to the comps in the MLS. Having access to all the expired listings and the sold prices is a great benefit. Its not that hard to get a real estate license. It just requires a few months of study. 8)

[propertymanager]

Brandon,

The best way to determine the value of a property is to KNOW your area.  Go look at a hundred houses (or more).  Keep looking until you can look at a house and know its value.  Comps and appraisals are only marginally accurate at best.  When a realtor or title agency give you comps, they are picking a few "comparable" properties - usually 3 to 5 - from a world of properties.  Are the picking the highest priced comparable properties or the lowest priced comparable properties?  Do they think that giving you high comps will encourage you to buy?  What are their motives?  

KNOW your area or be prepared to pay the price.

Good Luck,

Mike