What is this “Comparative Market Analysis” thing?
When I wrote on low-balling, I stressed that negotiating should be based on knowledge of true market value. This brought forth some questions and disparaging comments about the vagaries of getting good information.
A Comparative Market Analysis (CMA) is done by looking at the properties that are most like the one for sale, the “target.” The like-kind properties’ prices are then adjusted so I can compare apples with apples, by deducting value from the target for things that are worse and adding value to the target for things that are better. I get a lot of information about the like-kind properties from a combination of reading the MLS sheets, seeing the properties when they were on sale, and by asking the former listing agent.
There usually is a preponderance of evidence that will point to a price range for a property. When I do it, I keep going until I see a pattern. Sometimes it takes me two hours to do a complete report if there are not a lot of obvious like-kind properties.
Experienced agents know how to do this. I think you really need it.
Asking prices can be way out of whack. If you are negotiating from an asking price, my question would be: which asking price? Here are some examples of original asking prices (in thousands) with their final sale prices (all sold in past six months):
$419 to $364.5
$449 to $350
$539.9 to $395
$575 to $449
$599 to $430
$529 to $475
$499.9 to $450
$659.6 to $590
$640 to $568
$600 to $570
$789 to $625
Without knowing what the property is worth, how can you even think of negotiating?
