West Michigan Real Estate Blog | Luke Bouman Team

By Luke Bouman | Luke Bouman Real Estate Team | September 2026

When you sit down to list your home, your agent will present a comparative market analysis, or CMA. It is the foundation of your pricing strategy, and understanding how to read it puts you in control of one of the most important decisions in your sale. Here is what a CMA actually shows and what to question.

What a CMA Is

A CMA estimates your home's market value by comparing it to similar homes that recently sold, that are currently for sale, and that were listed but did not sell. It is not an appraisal, but it is the working basis for setting your list price. The quality of a CMA depends entirely on how well the comparable properties actually match yours.

The Three Types of Comps

Recently sold comparables are the most important, since they show what buyers actually paid. Active listings show your current competition. Expired or withdrawn listings show price points the market rejected, which is valuable information about the ceiling. A good CMA uses all three, and a good agent explains why each comp is or is not a strong match to your home.

What to Question

Ask how recent the sold comps are, since a market moving quickly makes older comps less reliable. Ask how similar they are in size, condition, location, and features, and how the agent adjusted for differences. Be wary of a CMA that only shows the highest comps to win your listing, a practice called buying the listing, where an inflated price gets you signed but then requires reductions. Accurate pricing from the start almost always nets more than starting high and chasing the market down.

Using It to Price Right

The goal of a CMA is an accurate, defensible price that attracts strong offers quickly. In a balanced 2026 market, pricing correctly matters more than ever, since buyers are value-conscious and overpriced homes sit. The Luke Bouman Team is the Lakeshore's most reviewed real estate team, with 450+ five-star Google reviews and over 1,000 five-star reviews across all major platforms. Call (616) 344-9923.

Related: What Is My Home Worth | Sell My Home in Holland Michigan | How to Price Your Home