I am currently studying to get a real estate license so that I can join my local board of realtors and have access to the comps in the MLS. Having access to all the expired listings and the sold prices is a great benefit. Its not that hard to get a real estate license. It just requires a few months of study. 8)
Brandon,
The best way to determine the value of a property is to KNOW your area. Go look at a hundred houses (or more). Keep looking until you can look at a house and know its value. Comps and appraisals are only marginally accurate at best. When a realtor or title agency give you comps, they are picking a few “comparable” properties - usually 3 to 5 - from a world of properties. Are the picking the highest priced comparable properties or the lowest priced comparable properties? Do they think that giving you high comps will encourage you to buy? What are their motives?
KNOW your area or be prepared to pay the price.
Good Luck,
Mike