Why Zestimates Don’t Work in Texas
If you’ve ever typed your address into Zillow, you’ve probably seen their famous Zestimate pop up. It might feel like a quick and easy way to check what your home is worth — but in Texas, those numbers can be way off. Here’s why Zestimates don’t work well here, and what you should rely on instead.
What is a Zestimate?
According to Zillow, a Zestimate is their estimate of a home’s market value. It’s created using data like a home’s square footage, number of bedrooms and bathrooms, tax records, and recent sales in the area.
How Zillow Calculates It
Zillow pulls information from county tax assessor records, MLS feeds, and public data. Their algorithm looks at facts about the home and compares it to nearby sales. On paper, that sounds great — more data should mean a more accurate number, right?
Why Zestimates Fall Short in Texas
Here’s the problem: Texas is a non-disclosure state. That means home sale prices are not public information. Without access to actual sold data, Zillow can only guess at values based on limited details.
The result? Inaccurate numbers. Sometimes they’re too high, sometimes too low, but rarely right on target.
Why You Shouldn’t Rely on a Zestimate
If you’re curious about what your home might sell for, don’t lean on a Zestimate — especially in Texas. A local real estate agent has access to the MLS, knows your neighborhood, and can factor in things an algorithm never will, like:
- Updates or renovations you’ve made
- Differences between the tax records and the actual property
- Local market trends (for example, if one side of town sells faster than another)
- Even issues with a particular sale that might have affected its price
This type of insight simply can’t be automated.
Zestimate vs. Local Expertise
In states where sales prices are public, Zestimates are usually closer to reality. But in Texas (and 11 other non-disclosure states like Alaska, Louisiana, and New Mexico), Zillow is missing critical pieces of the puzzle.
That’s why working with a local agent is your best bet. We know the market, the neighborhoods, and what buyers are really willing to pay.
The Bottom Line
In Texas, Zillow just doesn’t have the data it needs to give you an accurate home value. A Zestimate might be a starting point, but it’s no substitute for local expertise.
If you’re wondering what your home is really worth, let’s talk. Researching the market and giving homeowners the best information possible is one of the most important parts of my job — and I’d be happy to help you get the right number.
