5 Ways to Find Houses Sold Near Me

2. Search Zillow for ‘recently sold’ properties

If you want to do some quick online research yourself, you can use an online tool to view recently sold properties in your area. There are a number of different tools to choose from, each of which works slightly differently. It’s important to keep in mind when using these tools that while they’re a good place to begin your research, the information won’t be as accurate as when you work directly with an experienced real estate agent.

To look up properties that have recently sold on Zillow, type the name of the city you live in (or are interested in purchasing property in). This will provide a list of local results — both in list format and a map. In this example image below, we’re looking at sold properties only in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Every yellow dot on the map represents a property that has recently sold in the city. Clicking on any of the dots will give you the full details of the property, as well as the selling price.

To find data on homes in a specific neighborhood, you can zoom in on the map for a closer look. You also have the ability to refine your search to look at properties that are similar to yours in square footage and basic house features.

Try it yourself now using this Zillow link.

3. Check Trulia’s property information database

Trulia is another popular tool used by homebuyers and sellers that provides pricing information for sold properties based on both public information and agent-reported sales.

To look up recently sold properties in your area, select the “Sold” option and then enter the city or specific address you’re researching. In this example image below, we’re looking at single family homes in Austin, Texas, that have sold in the last three months. Each red dot on the map represents a property, which you can hover over to get more information on the property’s details and selling date.

When you click on an individual property, you’ll also be provided with a list of homes for sale in that area. This allows you to see what the current market value is for houses in that area of the city.

Try it yourself using this Trulia link. Remember to click the “sold” button before you hit the search link.

4. Use RealtyTrac’s database of recently sold homes

Although RealtyTrac specializes in foreclosure and distressed property data, they also maintain a database of recently sold homes that can be useful to buyers and sellers who want to do their own quick comparative analysis.

What’s interesting about this tool is that while the data is an estimate based on the home’s value, it does allow home buyers and sellers to get a median estimated home price for specific areas of each city by clicking around on the map.

In this example image below, we’re looking at homes that sold in Portland, Maine, within the last six months.

Try it yourself using this RealtyTrac link. Click, drag, and zoom to navigate to the state and city you’d like to view. As you zoom in closer, you’ll see the sold prices appear on the map markers. Click the marker to display the street address.

5. Look up ‘just sold’ property listings on Realtor.com

What’s interesting about the ‘Just Sold’ database on Realtor.com is that it not only provides a map of recently sold homes in the city, but it also allows users to play with a variety of map overlays to learn more about each area of the city and its features. For example, what the noise level is or what the proximity is to a grocery store or coffee shop.

In this example image below, we’re looking at recently sold single family homes in Boulder, Colorado, as well as their proximity to area grocery stores. By clicking through the map, you can view the selling price information for each home, as well as how many days the house was on the market before it sold and how expensive it is compared to other properties in the area.

Try the Realtor.com “Just Sold” tool using this link. When you’re viewing the listings results on a desktop browser, you’ll see a toggle button on the top right that allows you to select “List” or “Map.” If you’re on a mobile device browser, there will be a “Map View” button on the bottom left.

‘Sold price’ sleuthing? Make sure you compare apples to apples

Researching the selling prices of comparable homes is a great first step for both home buyers and sellers who want to maximize their investment and ensure they’re being realistic in their expectations. When comparing homes, it’s important to not only look at homes in a similar area, but also homes that are similar in size and have similar features. If a “similar” house down the street sells for $350k, for example, but has a fully renovated kitchen, while your kitchen is original to the house, it’s probable that yours will sell for less.

Comparable homes are just that — comparable — not 100% exact matches that you can base your listing price on without accounting for all the little nuances.

“Driveway layout can bring your home’s value up or down…proximity to powerlines, if you’re near a flight path, or even if you’re near a mobile home park — anything that could possibly affect the buyer,” Harich says.

So remember, just because the home down the street has the same square footage and number of bedrooms as yours doesn’t mean the two homes will sell for the same price.

Ultimately, you’ll need a real estate agent to step in and calculate the value of your home, so you can bank on getting buyers’ attention and sealing the deal on a successful home sale.

Keep in mind too, that a home’s selling price doesn’t necessarily equal its listing price — particularly in today’s competitive market. For a true apples-to-apples comparison, it’s worthwhile to look at real estate listing sites. Many of the sites we recommended above, including Zillow, Trulia, and Realtor.com, all maintain an updated list of real estate listings. Other popular websites include Homes.com and Redfin.

What is my home worth?

An automated valuation model (AVM) uses computer algorithms to give you a quick estimate of your home’s value — Zillow, Trulia, and Redfin all provide this service. While helpful, these numbers are only a ballpark estimate and may not reflect the true value of your property.

To get a closer estimate, HomeLight’s Home Value Estimator asks for additional data beyond the property address to better understand the unique features of the home and its location. And while nothing will beat the accuracy that a professional real estate agent can provide, the Home Value Estimator is designed to provide a closer estimate than some other AVM tools.

It will also give you a brief summary of what you might expect from an offer price if you sold your property through HomeLight’s Simple Sale versus working with a top real estate agent.

To learn more about finding the value of your home, click this link.

Header Image Source: (Deric / Unsplash)