What Is a Comparative Market Analysis (CMA) — and How It Works in the Greater San Antonio, Texas Real Estate Market

When buying or selling a home in San Antonio, Cibolo, Schertz, New Braunfels, or any surrounding community, understanding your home’s true market value is key. That’s where a Comparative Market Analysis (CMA) comes in — a powerful tool used by real estate professionals to help sellers price their homes accurately and buyers make smart, competitive offers.

🔍 What Is a CMA in Real Estate?

A Comparative Market Analysis (CMA) is an in-depth report prepared by a REALTOR® that evaluates your property’s value based on recent comparable home sales—known as “comps.”
The goal is to determine what your home would likely sell for in today’s market conditions.

In the San Antonio metro area, a CMA typically compares homes in your specific neighborhood or subdivision (for example, Alamo Ranch, Saratoga, Bentwood, or Garden Ridge) with similar size, age, features, and upgrades. By analyzing this data, your agent can estimate a realistic price range for your home.

🧾 What a San Antonio CMA Includes

A detailed CMA usually contains:

• Recent Sold Homes: The most accurate indicator of what buyers are currently paying in your area.

• Active Listings: Shows your home’s competition on the market right now.

• Pending Sales: Reflect current buyer demand and momentum.

• Expired/Withdrawn Listings: Helps identify overpricing or poor marketing that caused homes not to sell.

Each comparable is adjusted for differences such as lot size, upgrades, or square footage to reach a fair value range.

🏠 Local Factors That Affect Home Value in Greater San Antonio

The San Antonio housing market is dynamic, and local influences can significantly affect pricing. When building a CMA, REALTORS® in our area consider:

• Neighborhood Appeal: Proximity to Joint Base San Antonio (JBSA), specific schools, local parks, and shopping centers.

• Home Features: Upgraded kitchens, covered patios, energy-efficient systems, or pool installations common in Texas climates.

• Market Conditions: Whether it’s a buyer’s or seller’s market—important in areas like Cibolo, Schertz, Boerne, and New Braunfels, which have seen steady growth.

• Property Age & Condition: Newer subdivisions often appraise differently than established areas or rural acreage properties.

• Commuter Access: Homes with quick routes to Randolph AFB, Loop 1604, or I-35 may command premium value.

🧮 CMA vs. Appraisal — What’s the Difference?

While both estimate a property’s market value, they serve different purposes:

• A CMA is prepared by a real estate professional to guide pricing or offer decisions.

• An appraisal is conducted by a licensed appraiser, typically for lenders during the mortgage process.

A CMA gives you a real-time market pulse, while an appraisal is a formal valuation required for financing.

🧠 How REALTORS® Build a CMA in the San Antonio Market

A skilled agent doesn’t just pull data—they interpret it through local expertise. Here’s how the process works:

1. Property Visit: Your REALTOR® tours your home, noting upgrades, finishes, and unique features that may influence value.

2. Comparable Search: They identify homes recently sold within about ½ mile to 1 mile of your property (depending on density).

3. Adjustments: Differences in square footage, lot size, pool additions, and remodel quality are analyzed and adjusted for.

4. Market Review: Current inventory, interest rates, and days-on-market data from the San Antonio Board of REALTORS® (SABOR) are factored in.

5. Value Range: The result is a recommended price range for sellers or a competitive offer range for buyers.

💡 Why a Local CMA Matters More Than Zillow

While it’s tempting to rely on automated estimates like Zillow’s “Zestimates”, these numbers often miss key local details — like whether your home backs up to a greenbelt, sits in a cul-de-sac, or is zoned for a desirable school district such as SCUCISD or Comal ISD.

Zillow’s algorithm can be off by tens of thousands of dollars in Texas markets where home upgrades and lot sizes vary greatly.
A CMA, on the other hand, is created by a local expert who has walked the homes, studied the neighborhoods, and understands current buyer demand.

📈 When to Request a CMA

• Before Listing Your Home – to price it right and attract serious buyers from day one.

• Before Making an Offer – to ensure you don’t overpay in a competitive market.

• When Refinancing or Planning Renovations – to understand how upgrades might influence future resale value.

• When Inheriting or Transferring Property – to estimate current fair market value for estate or tax purposes.

💬 Why Experience Matters

At Keith & Sheila Realty Group, we’ve completed hundreds of CMAs across the Greater San Antonio region, helping sellers price their homes competitively and buyers make smart, data-driven decisions.
With Keith’s background as a former licensed home inspector and general contractor, our evaluations go beyond surface-level comparisons — we know construction quality, renovation ROI, and how upgrades impact real value.

🏡 Get Your Free San Antonio CMA

If you’re curious about what your San Antonio–area home is worth, we offer a free, no-obligation Comparative Market Analysis tailored to your specific property and neighborhood.

👉 Request Your Free CMA Today
📅 Schedule Your Home Value Consultation

🧭 Final Thoughts

In a market as active and diverse as San Antonio, pricing your home correctly from the start is crucial. A professional CMA helps ensure you maximize your home’s value when selling—or avoid overpaying when buying.

Accurate local data, professional interpretation, and experience in the market are what turn a simple analysis into real results.