Can You Really Trust Online Home Value Estimates?

By Monique Walker

Monique Walker has 21 years of experience successfully buying and selling homes in the Phoenix market. She knows the neighborhoods, schools, and the local economy. Monique and her team do all the leg work, keeping you up-to-date with new listings and conditions as they impact the market.

It’s easy to get excited when you see a home’s value online. Many people think, “Great, I can afford that!” But here’s the reality: your Zestimate or any online estimate is not your budget.

Here’s why these numbers are rough guesses and don’t account for all the costs that come with buying a home.

The reality of affordability. I recently worked with a couple who thought they could afford a $700,000 home because that’s what the internet said. When we ran the real numbers, including taxes, insurance, and interest rates, their true budget was closer to $615,000. That’s a big difference and could have caused serious financial strain if they had relied only on online estimates.

Why online numbers aren’t enough. They can give you a rough idea of a home’s value, but they don’t show the full picture. To know your real budget, you need a clear plan and a good grasp of all the costs that come with buying a home, not just the price you see online.

That’s why here at the Monique Walker Team, we take the time to really get to know you and earn the opportunity to be your agent. We’ll put together a plan that’s tailored just for you so you can see exactly what you can afford before you start looking at homes.

With the right guidance, you’ll feel more in control, avoid unexpected surprises, and make choices that really work for your life.

If you’re ready to see what your real budget looks like, we’ve got you covered. Call us today at (602) 413-8195, email Monique@MoniqueSells.com, or visit moniquesells.com, and let’s make a plan that works for you.