The short answer
A comparative market analysis is an agent's written estimate of value built from recent closed sales of similar nearby homes, adjusted for differences and compared against active and pending competition. It is free, takes a day or two, and produces a price range — not a lender-grade appraisal.
- Cost
- No charge
- Turnaround
- 1–2 days
- Output
- Price range
- Not
- An appraisal
01
What a CMA contains
- Three to six closed comparable sales with photos and dates
- Adjustments for size, condition, age, and features
- Active and pending listings you will compete against
- Days on market and list-to-sale price ratios
- A recommended price range with a suggested list price
02
How comparables are chosen
Good comps are close in distance, recent in time, and similar in type. Same subdivision or building beats same city, and a sale from last month beats one from last year. When there is no clean match, the analysis widens carefully and explains the stretch rather than hiding it.
03
CMA vs. appraisal vs. online estimate
| Method | Who produces it | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| CMA | Licensed agent | Setting a list price or offer price |
| Appraisal | Licensed appraiser | Lender collateral decision |
| Automated estimate | Algorithm | Rough curiosity check |
04
How to read one critically
- Are the comps genuinely similar, or just conveniently high?
- Are any sales older than six months?
- Is condition addressed honestly, including yours?
- Does the recommended price sit inside the closed range?
Ask for the analysis in writing — the best rated real estate agents in Hollywood, FL are comfortable showing you every comparable they used, including the ones that argue for a lower number.
The same rules apply for clients across Hollywood Lakes and Aventura and the surrounding South Florida communities.