Is there someplace similar to Zillow to find historic home prices?

[csziggy]

It's a complicated situation, but I need to get an approximate value of a house for what it was worth in 2007-2008. I know what the county put as market value those two years, but I also know that that is generally much lower than the actual market value.

[GP6971]

1. I think Realtor.com

only goes back 10 years. Just Google your address and you'll see hits from realtor, zillow and redfin.

[bottomofthehill]

2. Depending on the state

But most sales are recorded by county tax records. They usually keep a record of sales prices for houses similar to yours in That date frame.

[wyn borkins]

3. Try Visiting Your Local City Hall

Historical purchase pricing history might be available from your local county tax assessor's office, or maybe from your nearby county recorders office or from an office of the recorder of deeds. A visit to your city hall might be necessary, and could result in actual sales and pricing information.

[csziggy]

4. I can do that from the county Property Appraisers website

But I'll have to look up the various houses in the neighborhood and see when they sold to find enough comparisons.

This is a complicated situation since the house should have been appraised in an estate and was not. The previous owner died intestate in 2008, the house has been in contention ever since - even though probate should have been settled by 2015 and I may step in to help one of the heirs settle things.

I will discuss it with an attorney before I take any steps, I am just trying to see how much the value should have been so I can take that into consideration.

ETA - I was just trying to take a short cut rather than having to look up the twenty or thirty houses in the neighborhood.

[wyn borkins]

5. Kicking Myself To The Curb

After I posted my previous comment, I realized it was NOT what you were seeking...and I let it stand as that was all I could think of that might be of some assistance. I wish you the very best of luck with your ongoing situation.

[drray23]

8. if that is for the purpose of dealing with a probate

I doubt your estimate will be of any use. Indeed, talk to your attorney. If it has to be used as part of an argument during probate you likely will have to hire a professional appraiser who can certify what the average value would have been. I doubt the courts will take your estimate seriously otherwise.

[Backseat Driver]

6. Interesting question.

I like to follow a site called https://www.oldhousedreams.com/ where vintage and historical homes are listed for sale in North America, mostly in the US but often in Canada as well. I just like to see the pics, hehehe, and how those listed are staged or if they are just horribly in need "money pits" that might likely no longer have a chance at rehab. It seems as if a studious group of preservationists sometimes make comment on some of the listings - you might want to ask one that seems knowledgeable if the home in question is indeed on a Historical registry. Some seem to know something about the provenance of a listed home and might have an answer regarding what was going on in a certain area with regard to how homes may have been priced and/or appraised, say, if a well-known architect was the designer at the time it was constructed well back in the day. Good luck!

[csziggy]

10. The house in question is not the least bit interesting

So I doubt it or any of the others in the neighborhood would be on a site like that. Unfortunately.

[DonViejo]

7. Is Realtor.com as reliable and reputable as Fox News?...

Murdoch's News Corp owns both, plus many, many more, e.g., the National Geographic Magazine and television station.

[csziggy]

9. I didn't know that!

I guess I will have to do it the old fashioned way, well, except I will look up house sales on the internet rather than in person.

Thanks!