Comparative market analysis
A report an agent puts together to estimate what a home might sell for, based on recent nearby sales. It's not an appraisal, but it's what pricing conversations usually start from.
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Where this comes up: getting ready
Part 1 of 4
Why a seller cares
A CMA is the agent's pricing report: recent sales like yours, adjusted. It is what a listing appointment is built on, and reading its comps yourself is how you know whether the number in it is evidence or salesmanship.
Part 2 of 4
A simple example
An agent's CMA shows five sales in six months between $289,000 and $318,000 and suggests listing at $309,900.
| What to read in the CMA | What it tells you |
|---|---|
| The comps' dates | Whether the market they describe is this one |
| The adjustments | How the agent got from those sales to your number |
| The suggested price against the comps' middle | Whether the agent is pricing to sell or pricing to win the listing |
A CMA is only as good as its comps, and the comps are on the page to be checked.
Part 3 of 4
What people get wrong
That a CMA is an appraisal. It is an agent's opinion from comps, with no license behind the number.
Part 4 of 4 · where to read next
Where it appears in the sale
What a definition is, and what it isn't
Keighbor is a software company, not a law firm, brokerage, or tax adviser. This is general information, not legal, tax, financial, or real estate advice about your sale. Your situation may differ. Before acting on a contract, disclosure, title, tax, or pricing question, ask an appropriately licensed professional in your state.
Written and researched by Keighbor Research · drawn from the reference glossary · how we research and check what we publish
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