New site gives real-time home valuation

“Article about it here: http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/business/258748_zillow08.html?source=rss

The site is here: http://www.zillow.com/

However, all the attention today has apparently crashed the site. I received the following poem a few minutes ago:

A great site has stalled
Zillow sighs with frustration
Please come back later”

“hmmmm, it says where I live doesn't exist :(”

“Wow! $499 for my van down by the river!”

“I got: "Oops - Our website is down."

Well cheer it up!”

“I finally got through. Even though they said they had good info for my area the valuation they gave me was way, way lower than what my bank said 2 months ago. Oh well, its "beta".”

“they told me my house was worth about 60% of what we paid 8 years back. Its bunk.”

“Then it doesn't matter that it's down again.”

“mine was even less than the "state equalized value" which is generally about 40% of the total value where I live.”

“If you google home valuation, you'll get some sites that will give you market prices in the neighborhood for the past couple of years.”

“It was right on the money. It shows when we bought the house in 1997 (and what we paid) and the prices for houses in the neighborhood and what they sold for the last 9 years. They are also right on the money since I know what they sold for. The valuation they give is vague but I would say that's the region I would have guessed. I think they depend a lot on the amount of sales in the area (understandable) and if there aren't a lot of sales then there isn't a lot go base an estimate on. I will say the estimate was pretty vague and if any of you want to pay the "top" price please call me at your earliest convenience. I can me moved out by this weekend...”

“Crazy how it can differ so much. Glad it worked for ya Jimmy. We have loads of home sales in my area, mine and 90% are "starter homes" must not have good data sources for here. Oh well, no sale till 2019.”

“Wow. It said my house grew by over 100 sf and we somehow added an additional half bathroom! It also showed my in-laws house as being valued at $425k; that it definitely is not.”

“just did my dads house, right on the money. The house I grew up in is now listed at $325k, fat chance.”

“It didn't even have sales data for the house I bought 1.5 years ago.”

“Right on the money for mine.”

“i dont' own a home, i live in other peoples.........”

“They wouldn't give me anything for my tent in GSMNP unless I move it into Gatlinburg.

LOL.”

“Pretty cool. Innacurate but cool. They have mine about $60K under actual.”

“
a cute little fixer-upper........”

“chappy, I like the location,lots of curb appeal not as roomy as I like but it has potential, taking offers?”

“Pretty amazing! I had every house on my street except mine! But I could still get the drift. Satellite pics were pretty good.”

“I saw that article in the wsj yesterday morning and checked out the site - not much different than the other home value sites except they give you an aerial view of your home and an idea of the value of the surrounding homes. $274,000 for the 800 square foot house I paid $80,000 for 6 years ago - really crazy, but inventories of unsold houses are way up - something's got to give.”