Montana: The Mystery State of Real Estate – Why Zillow Gets It Wrong

If you’ve ever searched for home prices in Montana on Zillow or similar sites, you may have noticed something strange—wildly inaccurate estimates, missing sales data, or prices that seem more like a shot in the dark than a real number. That’s because Montana is one of just a handful of non-disclosure states in the U.S. But what does that mean, and why does it matter?

What Is a Non-Disclosure State?

In most states, when a property sells, the sales price is publicly recorded and available for anyone to see. However, in Montana, sale prices are not required to be publicly disclosed. That means there’s no official record of what homes actually sell for—at least, not one that’s accessible to the general public.

Instead, sales data is kept private, available only to parties directly involved in the transaction, such as real estate agents, brokers, and appraisers who subscribe to the Multiple Listing Service (MLS).

Why Does This Matter for Online Estimates?

Since major real estate websites like Zillow, Redfin, and Realtor.com rely on public records to generate their home value estimates, the lack of public sales data in Montana makes their estimates highly unreliable.

Without access to actual sold prices, these sites must rely on outdated tax assessments, user-submitted data, or algorithms that make broad guesses based on nearby properties. The result? Home values that can be tens or even hundreds of thousands of dollars off the mark!

The Realtor Advantage – How We Use This to Your Benefit

While non-disclosure might seem like a challenge, it actually works to your advantage when you work with a local Realtor. Here’s why:

- Accurate Pricing – Realtors have access to real, up-to-date sales data through the MLS. This means we can provide a true market analysis, rather than a ballpark guess.

- Stronger Negotiation Power – Since sales prices aren’t public knowledge, buyers and sellers have a level of privacy that can help in negotiations.

- Local Expertise Over Algorithms – Instead of relying on an automated system, working with a Realtor ensures you’re getting human expertise tailored to your specific home and neighborhood.

The Bottom Line

If you’re buying or selling in Montana, don’t rely on syndicated real estate sites for accurate pricing. Instead, work with a local Realtor who has access to the most reliable data and a deep understanding of our unique market.

Want to learn more about how Montana’s non-disclosure status affects your real estate decisions? Reach out to me today—I’d love to help!