"But Zillow Says 

My House Is Worth…" 

And Other Dangerous 

Phrases in Oklahoma City 

Real Estate

We need to have a conversation about Zillow. And Redfin. And every other website that's convinced you your home in Moore is worth approximately one kajillion dollars.

Those estimates are called "Zestimates" or "automated valuations," and they're based on algorithms that have never driven down your street, walked through your front door, or noticed that your "updated bathroom" still has brass fixtures from 1987.

Let's break down why these numbers can lead you astray—and what to trust instead.

How Zestimates Actually Work

Zillow's algorithm pulls data from public records: square footage, lot size, bedrooms, recent sales nearby. Then it does math.

What it doesn't know:

• That your basement floods every time the Canadian River gets ambitious
• That you have $60K in upgrades that don't show in Oklahoma County tax records
• That the "comparable sale" down the street in Nichols Hills was a divorce liquidation
• That your neighbor's house sold high because it backs up to Bluff Creek trails and yours backs up to the turnpike

The algorithm is guessing. Educated guessing, but guessing.

The Danger of Anchoring to a Number

Here's what happens when you price based on Zillow:

1. Zillow says $320K
2. You list at $325K ("a little room to negotiate")
3. Actual market value is $295K
4. Buyers touring Edmond and Deer Creek scroll past
5. Listing expires
6. You're reading this blog post

Sound familiar?

The number you want and the number the OKC market will pay are often very different. Zillow doesn't know the difference. A good local agent does.

What Actually Determines Your Home's Value

Recent comparable sales — What have similar homes in your OKC-area neighborhood actually sold for in the last 60–90 days? Not listed for. Sold for.

Current competition — What else is on the market right now in Mustang, Bethany, or your specific zip code, and how does your home compare?

Condition and updates — Is your home move-in ready, or does it need work? Does it have the finishes buyers in Oklahoma City are looking for right now?

Market conditions — Is inventory tight or flooded? Are rates high or low? Are buyers aggressive or cautious?

A proper comparative market analysis (CMA) considers all of this. Zillow considers… math.

The Bottom Line

Zillow is a starting point, not a verdict. If you priced your expired listing based on an algorithm that's never experienced an Oklahoma summer or dodged a deer on your street, it might be time to get a human opinion.

Preferably one who's actually been inside your house—and knows the OKC market.

 -Duane Hurd, Lux Team