Anyone know of a way online to quickly find out the price of various houses that are for sale around here? I heard there was some sort of database - but maybe that is realtors only?
This is probably not going to help, unless it jogs someone else's memory. I have in the past found a way to look that sort of thing up, but I can't remember how. It may not have actually been a list of current properties for sale and for how much, but I know I could plug in an address and find out the values of properties at/near that address - it may have been how much places sold for in the recent past near a given address. I can't recall if I got that through zoning or planning, or through something not related to the City's website/info at all.
Well there's Zillow (http://www.zillow.com/) for starters.
And try housingmaps.com (http://www.housingmaps.com/) which uses Craig's List listings combined with Google Maps.
Also, if you're poking around the web and see a house with just an MLS number that you need more info on, you can go to Realtor.com (http://realtor.com/FindHome/default.asp?mode=MLS&st=ma&poe=realtor) and enter the MLS to learn more. (Lots of other realtor web sites won't let you access the MLS database at all.)
So will newenglandmoves.com (newenglandmoves.com) .
For info on properties that have already sold in the cities/towns around Davis Square, see cambridgedeeds.com (http://www.masslandrecords.com/malr/ma018/index.htm).
Oh yes, you should be able to find somerville property or tax assessors site, this has the values and the last sales price of a house, along with an old picture.. from this site (http://indorgs.virginia.edu/portico/assessors.html) you can find Somerville in vissionappraisal.com (http://www.visionappraisal.com/databases/mass/index.htm)
This site (http://www.searchsystems.net/) use to be great and free! You could find everything from marriage records, unclaimed property sites and tons of other variuos and free public records sites from this central site. But now it looks like you need to pay to use it. Damn. Does anyone know of another great "Public Records" database that is free? I thought there were more before but have not used any in a while.
Interesting. I would swear up and down that I last found this sort of info via the city's own homepage, but I can't seem to figure out how to find it now, so I may have some bits of different memories mixed up.
There was probably was a link from there too. But your post jogged my memory too. there is also a site called: http://www.zillow.com/
Zillow At a time when there is lots of talk about the housing market slowing down, you can calculate the value of your own property, see how it compares to others, find a house, and more at this site.
Since what you asked is so adequately answered, I thought I'd just add that The Alewife weekly paper in N. Cambridge has been running the closing prices of all properties sold in their area, back for months. Fascinating reading.
I second the rec for realtor.com (which is run by the National Association of Realtors, not any particular brokerage) as well as for newenglandmoves.com (Coldwell Banker, where I work), both of which will allow you to search the MLS for information on homes for sale.
Note that while Zillow is useful, it often contains inaccurate data (I have no idea why), so don't assume too much based on the info there. I've had some fun adventures with clients armed with bad Zillow data on particular properties.
(obDisclosure: Yes, I'm one of Them now. Feel free to drop me a line if you want more info.)
no subject
Date: 2006-09-14 11:15 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-09-14 11:24 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-09-14 11:32 pm (UTC)And try housingmaps.com (http://www.housingmaps.com/) which uses Craig's List listings combined with Google Maps.
Also, if you're poking around the web and see a house with just an MLS number that you need more info on, you can go to Realtor.com (http://realtor.com/FindHome/default.asp?mode=MLS&st=ma&poe=realtor) and enter the MLS to learn more. (Lots of other realtor web sites won't let you access the MLS database at all.)
Hope that's what you needed!
no subject
Date: 2006-09-14 11:33 pm (UTC)For info on properties that have already sold in the cities/towns around Davis Square, see cambridgedeeds.com (http://www.masslandrecords.com/malr/ma018/index.htm).
no subject
Date: 2006-09-15 01:27 am (UTC)This one was Hunneman: http://www.newenglandmoves.com/home/index.htm
http://mlsplug-in.com/mlsplugin/search.asp
no subject
Date: 2006-09-15 01:33 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-09-15 01:55 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-09-15 01:57 am (UTC)This site (http://www.searchsystems.net/) use to be great and free! You could find everything from marriage records, unclaimed property sites and tons of other variuos and free public records sites from this central site. But now it looks like you need to pay to use it. Damn. Does anyone know of another great "Public Records" database that is free? I thought there were more before but have not used any in a while.
no subject
Date: 2006-09-15 02:03 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-09-15 02:13 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-09-15 02:14 am (UTC)Zillow At a time when there is lots of talk about the housing market slowing down, you can calculate the value of your own property, see how it compares to others, find a house, and more at this site.
no subject
Date: 2006-09-15 02:17 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-09-15 02:54 am (UTC)www.isoldmyhouse.com
great, now the jingle is stuck in my head again...
no subject
Date: 2006-09-15 04:10 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-09-15 05:06 am (UTC)Note that while Zillow is useful, it often contains inaccurate data (I have no idea why), so don't assume too much based on the info there. I've had some fun adventures with clients armed with bad Zillow data on particular properties.
(obDisclosure: Yes, I'm one of Them now. Feel free to drop me a line if you want more info.)