The most accurate way to determine the market value of a home is to use actual comparable sales. Comparable sales are recent sales of similar homes in the same or similar, nearby neighborhood. But before I explain how to use comparable sales, let's talk about what you should NOT use.
Tax assessments vary dramatically from one area to another.
Each Tax Assessor's Office has its own individual approach to assessing the property within its own jurisdiction. The information is rarely current. This approach may or may not have any bearing on the real market value of the property. I recommend that you never rely on assessment and tax information to determine current market value unless you are an expert on tax assessments for your area. The previous buyer of the home may have paid too much or too little for it.