With all the recent hubbub about the state of the real estate market, you're probably more curious than ever to know your home value. There are several factors contributing to this fall in the market, and there isn't really much homeowners can do directly about falling home value prices and decreasing property values. If you're considering moving, don't get hung up on how lousy the market may be doing or what a crappy time it is to sell (which isn't necessarily true). Instead, focus on the factors of your home value that you CAN have some control over, and that could be seriously decreasing your home value.



First off, don't think just about the home value, but the property value as well. That includes the home and the total of any land. You have to take into account home value AND property value – you may have the biggest, baddest home in the area, but if it's surrounded by weeds and cars on cinder blocks, you're asking for the total home value and property value to be lowered.

Home value isn't just based on the physical factors within your property, but on the desirability of the home and neighborhood as well – is it a place that other people would want to live? The more desirable a home, the higher the home value and the higher the likelihood of finding homebuyers easily. Unfortunately, if you're trying to sell your home, it's not just your property that is on display to prospective buyers, but your whole neighborhood.

There are 5 main factors that can go a long way to increasing or decreasing your home value:

1. Condition of homes – your home may be well-maintained, but what about other houses in the neighborhood? Do your neighbors keep up on repairs and landscaping, or are their broken shutters and junky lawn bring down your home value as well as theirs?

2. Condition of streets – does your city/county/homeowners' association take care of the streets, keeping them clean and in good repair? Do they drain water well and are they plowed often in the winter? Being surrounded by shoddy streets is a sure way to bring down your home value. If your streets aren't up to snuff, you can contact your homeowners' association or the proper authorities and see what you can get done about it.

3. Crime – how does your neighborhood statistics stack against other areas'. Obviously, the more crime-free the neighborhood, the higher the average home value is bound to be.

4. Schools – the state of the schools in your area has a huge affect on peoples' decision to move in or move out. The better the school system, the easier it is to get people moved in the neighborhood, therefore the higher your home value can get. The crappier the school system, the less likely you are to get a ton of people trying to move there.

5. Zoning – what is the future of your neighborhood? Is it pretty much going to stay small and quiet, or might the city widen the streets to allow more traffic, or build a shopping strip across the street? A home may have a higher home value when it's first bought because it has wonderful views – but if zoning allows that view to be turned into a strip mall, you've lost an edge in the market and your home value is bound to be affected.

These 5 factors affecting home value may seem like they're out of your hands, but in reality, they are all things you can have a say in by getting involved with your homeowners' associations and keeping on top of any changes going on in your neighborhood. By becoming a more active member of your community from the start, you can keep an eye on these factors and enact change when necessary, especially if you get backing from others in your neighborhood.

The fact is, you can't really do anything about home loan rates, or an economic slump, but you CAN get involved with these factors that affect your home value. If you keep your eye on them from day one, you're more likely to have a bit more control over your home value and property worth.