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What is CMA in real estate?

Can you explain what CMA in real estate is?

Asked by Trent | Fort Wayne, IN| 02-27-2023| 2,028 views|Terms & Definitions|Updated 3 years ago

Answers (7)

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Barrett Henry

RE/MAX Collective · Tampa, FL

(6 reviews)
CMA stands for comparative market analysis. It's a report your real estate agent puts together to estimate what your home is worth based on what similar homes in your area have recently sold for. The agent looks at comparable properties, usually called comps, that are similar in size, condition, location, age, and features. They pull recently sold homes, typically within the last 3 to 6 months and within a close radius of your property. They also look at what's currently active on the market and what listings expired without selling, because those tell a story too. Active listings show your competition. Expired listings show what the market rejected. From there, the agent adjusts for differences. If your home has a renovated kitchen and the comp didn't, that's a positive adjustment. If the comp had a pool and yours doesn't, that's a negative adjustment. The goal is to land on a realistic price range that reflects what a buyer would actually pay for your home in the current market. A CMA is not an appraisal. An appraisal is a formal valuation done by a licensed appraiser, usually required by a lender during a transaction. A CMA is an informal market analysis done by an agent to help you make pricing decisions. It's free, it's not legally binding, and any good agent will provide one before you list. If you're selling, a CMA helps you price correctly from day one so you don't overprice and sit on the market. If you're buying, your agent can run a CMA on a home you're interested in to help you decide what to offer. It's one of the most useful tools in real estate and any agent worth working with should be able to walk you through one clearly.
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03-27-2026 (1 month ago)··
Kevin Neely

Keller Williams Realty Elite Partners · Spring Hill, FL

(76 reviews)
This is a common question among Florida buyers and sellers, and the answer depends on your specific situation and local market conditions. Understanding the fundamentals before making any decisions protects your investment and your timeline. In Brooksville, Hernando County, Florida, the real estate landscape has its own characteristics that affect how this plays out in practice. The Nature Coast market attracts a diverse buyer pool including relocators from higher-cost states, retirees, and local move-up buyers, which creates consistent demand across most price points and property types. The strategic approach is to work with a local agent who can pull current comparable sales data and walk you through the specific factors that apply to your situation in Florida. Every market is different at the neighborhood level, and decisions based on general advice or national headlines often miss the local nuances that matter most to your outcome. Making informed decisions based on local data is always the strongest position. Kevin Neely & Kaitlynd Robbins | K2 Sells, Keller Williams Elite Partners
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04-15-2026 (1 week ago)··
Austin Pelka

Keller Williams Shore Properties · Toms River, NJ

CMA stands for Comparative Market Analysis. It's a report an agent puts together to figure out what a home is actually worth right now, based on similar homes that have recently sold nearby. It's not an appraisal, but it's what agents and sellers use to land on a listing price. The comp selection is what makes or breaks it. A good CMA looks at homes that are close in size, age, condition, and location, ideally sold within the last 90 days. If the market is moving fast, even 60 days can be more reliable. If you're buying, you can ask your agent for a CMA on any home you're serious about. It's one of the best ways to know whether the asking price is realistic before you make an offer.
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04-08-2026 (2 weeks ago)··
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Chris Yochum

Dickson Realty · Reno, NV

(24 reviews)
Comparative Market Analysis. which consists of most recent sales that are comparable to yours and what your competition looks like. Its used to determine current market value.
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03-13-2023 (3 years ago)··
Josephine & Raj Sharma

Legacy Homes Realty · Lake Elsinore, CA

(150 reviews)
CMA in real estate stands for Comparative Market Analysis. It is a report that provides an estimate of the value of a property based on the recent sales prices of comparable properties in the same geographic area. To prepare a CMA, a real estate agent or appraiser will research recent sales of similar properties in the same neighborhood, taking into consideration factors such as the size, age, condition, and location of the homes. They will then make adjustments to account for any differences between the properties being compared, such as the number of bedrooms, bathrooms, or the presence of a garage. The resulting report will provide an estimated value for the property in question, based on the sales prices of the comparable properties. This can be a useful tool for both buyers and sellers, as it provides an objective assessment of the current market value of a property, which can help inform pricing and negotiation strategies.
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02-27-2023 (3 years ago)··
Sami VecchiollaRising Star25 Answers
Sami Vecchiolla

COMPASS GREATER NY LLC · Chappaqua, NY

(17 reviews)
Comparative market analysis. Basically a collection of similar homes that would directly help in pricing the property in consideration.
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09-28-2025 (7 months ago)··
Bob FallRising Star15 Answers
Bob Fall

Century 21 Lee-Mac Realty · Alma, MI

The way to determine the value of something is to try and figure out what someone would pay for it. To determine what someone will pay for something, we look at what people have paid for similar properties in similar areas. We do a comparative market analysis (CMA) which looks at what properties have sold for in the last few weeks. Please note that in most states a third-party opinion of value must be performed by a licensed appraiser. That is different than a CMA. A CMA is a tool to help determine how much you should list your house for or a fair market estimate of what you should pay for real estate.
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02-28-2023 (3 years ago)··
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