Comments on: Zillow Banned in Arizona by Regulators. Is the Novelty Wearing Off?

By: Eric Myers

Eric Myers — Fri, 10 Dec 2010 21:31:27 +0000

Very interesting. I have used Zillow before and found it very helpful in finding my current home. I’m sad to see such a helpful service go, but I think that’s a very valid argument as to why it is not as precise as it needs to be. Thanks for the interesting read.

By: Susan Zanzonico

Susan Zanzonico — Sun, 31 Aug 2008 13:32:25 +0000

Word has been out for a while about “Zestimates” yet I still have people referencing this information. They just don’t understand.

By: Nanny State

Nanny State — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 14:48:17 +0000

And some people think that smoking is not harmful, even though many state attorneys general stridently disagree (although the state atty gen in the office I interned at would smoke outside of the building at lunch).

When it comes down to it, lots of people are stupid, but when we dumb down the world to accommodate them, we make them all dumber.

And, wait…didn’t the REAL STATE LICENSED appraisers…OVER-VALUE? And REAL STATE LICENSED real estate agents and brokers, how can I say it, stretch the truth (all the way to their own bank account)?

I think Zillow is great, and a fun way to track the “Zestimate” on my landlord’s house (the one that I rent). From 750K to 586K (all within one year), but would I ever make an offer based on a Zestimate? No–despite public education, I have not been dumbed down by the nanny state.

By: Jon Rayes

Jon Rayes — Sat, 12 Apr 2008 01:29:13 +0000

That Zillow is not at all accurate. I have been using a company called Courthouse Retrieval System http://www.crsdata.net.(in the South East) They are good folks,Great company. However you must always use an appraiser!

By: MoneyMan

MoneyMan — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 00:00:52 +0000

Personally I like the service but maybe the conflict will push the service to more prominently display the disclaimer. A click away might be too far.

By: kermit johnson

kermit johnson — Sat, 11 Aug 2007 17:54:11 +0000

If any outfit makes clear and disclaimers as to how it arrives at valuation guestimates, I have no problem with that. We don’t need the “nanny state” to tell us how to discuss data.

However, I bet that if Zillow estimates were consistently on the high side, real estate agents would not be whining about them.

By: Ron Asteak

Ron Asteak — Sat, 28 Jul 2007 03:03:25 +0000

Zillow.com should change the name from “Zestimates” to a more appropriate name “GUESS-IDIOTS”

By: Sunil Sethi

Sunil Sethi — Fri, 27 Apr 2007 06:18:09 +0000

even if people disbelieve what zillow may say about their property they still tend to believe what it says about a new neighborhood they are thinking about moving into. Similarly others behave the same towards their neighborhoods. I have a listing in which zillow can’t even map the property but it arrives a value about $40-$50K less than the recent comp. Zillow’s inaccurate valuation creates a perception problem that the seller has overpriced the property when in fact it is in line with the most recent sale and it’s zillow which has miss priced the property. Arizona’s move is a good one, and I hope other states follow.

By: Arizona House of Representatives Gets Zillow Off the Hook | Real Estate Investing for Real Blog

Tue, 24 Apr 2007 18:09:07 +0000

[...] of you have already read our post Zillow Banned in Arizona by Regulators. Is the Novelty Wearing Off?. Im just curious if there are any reactions to this announcement? appraisal, appraiser, arizone, [...]

By: David G from Zillow.com

David G from Zillow.com — Tue, 24 Apr 2007 17:53:58 +0000

Update: We are very pleased that the Arizona House of Representatives has amended SB1291, a proposed law to regulate appraisals, to exclude Web sites like Zillow.

By: Bart

Bart — Fri, 20 Apr 2007 19:09:12 +0000

Appraisals are a black art and can be made valued any way the appraiser desires. I had TWO appraisls of my house 8 years, with in 2 months of each other, with ZERO property changes and the appraisals were $15,000 apart with the highest coming in at $78k. (I had spent $30k on an 26×30 addition to a house I bought for 50k.)

Zillow has done what’s required, regular people are idiots and the AZ Realtors/Appraisers are greedy protectionists.

By: Joshua Dorkin

Joshua Dorkin — Fri, 20 Apr 2007 16:51:56 +0000

Sounds like you’ve gotten your rant out already, Gene!

Thanks everyone for sharing your thoughts. It is interesting to see the wide range of opinions here. I hope the good people at Zillow are at least taking notice of all of your thoughts and ideas.

Anyone else with any other opions on the matter?