This estimator gives an order of magnitude, not a value. It starts from a published fact: the Centris median price for the chosen city or borough and property category (single-family, condominium or plex), over the last 4 quarters. It then adjusts that price for living area, relative to a typical property (950 sq ft for a condo, 1,500 sq ft for a house, 2,400 sq ft for a plex), and for bedrooms and bathrooms, year built, condition, parking and basement. It shows a midpoint and a range of plus or minus 15%. The list covers 81 places in Montreal, Laval, the South Shore and the North Shore.
When Centris does not publish a place’s median because there were too few sales, the tool uses the regional median and says so in the result. Centris counts semi-detached and row houses as single-family homes: they start from the same median and differ by their area.
Example: a 1,600 sq ft single-family home in Laval, 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, built in the 1990s, average condition, exterior parking, finished basement. The Centris single-family median for Laval is $629,750 over the last 4 quarters. The area, 7% above the reference, adds 4%: a midpoint of $655,000 and a range of $556,000 to $753,000.
What the tool does not see. Only the starting point is published. The adjustments are the tool’s own assumptions, deliberately moderate, and come from no published source. The tool ignores the street, the lot, orientation, the quality of renovations, known problems with the building and current market conditions. A median describes all the sales in a sector, not one particular property: half of the sales close below it, half above.
Estimate, comparative analysis, appraisal: three different things.
- The estimator is an automatic calculation. Its result is neither an appraisal nor a comparative market analysis.
- The comparative market analysis (CMA) is prepared by a real estate broker. According to the OACIQ, the broker must carry out a comparative analysis with similar properties recently sold in the same area and give a well-founded, reasoned opinion. It takes into account location, dimensions, year built, state of upkeep, number of rooms, materials and the market. The result is an estimated market value.
- The appraisal is prepared by a chartered appraiser (évaluateur agréé), a member of the Ordre des évaluateurs agréés du Québec (OEAQ). The appraiser gives an objective, reasoned opinion of value and presents it in an appraisal report. Membership in the Ordre is required to use the title.
- The municipal roll value is used for property taxation. It can differ from the market: Laval applies a comparative factor of 1.03 in 2026 to bring it to market value when calculating the welcome tax.
To go further: how much is my house worth today in Laval and how to audit your neighbour’s price.
Frequently asked questions
How do I find out how much my house is worth?
What is the difference between a comparative market analysis and an appraisal?
Where do the estimator's prices come from?
Why is the estimator's range so wide?
Is my municipal assessment the market value of my home?
Is my data sent anywhere?
Where these figures come from
The calculators on this site apply the Quebec rules in force: transfer duty brackets by municipality, CMHC insurance premiums based on the down payment, the legal minimum down payment, the GDS and TDS ratios Canadian lenders use, and the stress test rate. The calculation runs entirely in your browser: no amount you enter is sent anywhere or stored.
What a calculator cannot do
The result is an estimate, not a mortgage pre-approval, not a certified appraisal and not tax advice. A lender decides on your full credit file, your proof of income and the nature of the property. Scales and rates change during the year. Check any figure that matters with your lender, your notary or your accountant before committing. The limits of these tools are set out in the terms of use.
