Google can give you an average.
But an average can't tell you what your house is worth—or what you should pay for the house you're considering.
Pine Township contains multiple housing types, ages, lot sizes, neighborhoods and price ranges.
That's why I don't like relying exclusively on township-wide averages.
Imagine three houses sell for $500,000, $800,000 and $1.5 million.
The average is about $933,000.
But that number doesn't accurately describe any of those three properties.
What determines a Pine Township home's value?
I look at:
- Location and neighborhood
- Recent comparable sales
- Square footage and functional layout
- Lot and topography
- Age
- Renovations
- Major mechanical systems
- Exterior condition
- Finished lower levels
- Outdoor living
- Garage configuration
- Current competition
And condition matters more than many people realize.
A beautiful house with aging roofing, HVAC, windows and exterior components can have a very different value proposition than a similarly priced home where those items have already been addressed.
Price tells you what someone is asking. Value requires more investigation.
