Is PropertyDNA free for homebuyers?

Yes. The PropertyDNA iOS app is 100% free for homebuyers and homeowners. Every feature — valuation, risk analysis, permit history, comparable sales, neighborhood scoring — is unlocked at no charge. There are no in-app purchases, no subscriptions, and no upsells in the iOS app.

How is PropertyDNA different from Zestimate or Realtor.com?

Zestimate and Realtor.com show price estimates only. PropertyDNA delivers institutional-grade intelligence — permit history, FEMA flood zones, CalFire wildfire severity zones, USGS seismic exposure, school ratings, comparable sales velocity, and a confidence-scored 5-year value trajectory. Every metric is mathematically derivable from a named public data source.

Why is PropertyDNA called 'defending homebuyers from predatory agents'?

Real estate agents are paid as a percentage of transaction value, which structurally biases them toward closing the deal — not toward protecting the buyer's interests. PropertyDNA hands the buyer the same institutional-grade data their agent has access to, eliminating the information asymmetry that lets predatory practices flourish.

What data sources does PropertyDNA use?

RentCast MLS for live listings and valuation, US Census ACS for demographics, FEMA NFHL for flood zones, CalFire FHSZ for wildfire severity, USGS for seismic hazard, county Assessor CREST APIs for permit and renovation history, and the National Weather Service for climate exposure. Every metric is named and traceable.

What markets does PropertyDNA cover?

1.67 million+ parcels across the entire Coachella Valley (Palm Springs, Palm Desert, La Quinta, Indio, Rancho Mirage, Cathedral City, Desert Hot Springs, Indian Wells, Coachella), Riverside and San Diego counties, Miami-Dade and Broward counties in Florida, the Connecticut tri-state luxury corridor (Greenwich, New Canaan, Westport, Darien), and Westchester County in New York.

Valuation · 6 min read

How HOA Dues Quietly Reprice a Home

Two identical homes with different HOA dues are not worth the same. How assessments and reserve health move value more than buyers expect.

HOA dues are a recurring liability, and recurring liabilities capitalize into price. A buyer who ignores the dues line is overpaying, even when the sticker price looks like a deal.

The capitalization math

A few hundred dollars a month in extra dues is, in present-value terms, tens of thousands of dollars of purchasing power redirected away from the home. In the valley’s gated golf inventory — the widest HOA-driven dispersion in the region — this is one of the largest hidden adjustments in the whole market.

Reserves and special assessments

A low reserve balance is a future special assessment waiting to happen. Reserve health belongs in the valuation, not the fine print.

Property DNA surfaces HOA pressure separately from the headline valuation so you can value a home net of its dues and assessment risk.

Frequently asked questions

Do HOA dues affect a home’s value?

Yes. Higher recurring dues capitalize into a lower price for an otherwise identical home, and weak reserves add special-assessment risk that belongs in the valuation.

Related markets & research

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Last updated: 2026-02-19