Arizona bars online home price estimator

The AP reports:

Arizona regulators have ordered a Seattle-based online home price estimator to stop doing business in the state.

The Arizona Board of Appraisal issued two cease-and-desist letters to company that operates the popular real estate Web site Zillow, saying it needs an appraiser license to offer its "zestimates" in Arizona.

"It is the board's feeling that (Zillow) is providing an appraisal," Deborah Pearson, the board's executive director, said Friday.

Zillow warns users the estimates it provides are not a definitive value but a starting point for consumers. Launched in February, 2006, the company claims it has 4 million users a month, including people wanting to how much their homes - or their neighbors' homes - are worth.

You know Arizona is changing when you need Big Brother's approval on everything.You'll notice how many people are sensitive to lower home prices.This means less tax revenue for state and municipalities.You might say powerful vested interests don't like the laws of supply and demand.