<p>I remembering asking this same question on the Financial Aid forum and getting a lot of good info. As I recall, there is a calculator fin aid people use where they plug in your acquisition price (what you paid for your house), the year, the ZIP code, and they calculate the appreciated value. They can also check your estimated value on one of the sites widely available now like Zillow or Trulia. You can also check those – I found Zillow’s estimate to be below what I would sell my house for. </p>
<p>I guess what I’m saying is: put down the most accurate realistic estimate of what you would sell your house for. If your number is too far off reality based on the appreciation calculator and Zillow’s estimate, it might seem “off”.</p>