Old Mls Listings?
hi, i kinda stumbled onto this site forgive me if i sound unknowledgeable on the subject as I AM. Does MLS retain old listing data in database accessible by certain individuals? specifically, would someone with the appropriate authorization be able to search old listings in mls for a certain physical street address and retrieve listing data for that property? I realize that this would probably be a great comparative tool for realtors to determine pricing of current homes for sale, but it can be used also in "dishonest" ways - which is what i am concerned about. -i am not looking to learn how to do so, just to find out if it can be done so _____I very much appreciate if someone knowing could reply : Thanks
Fogs
I'm sure the length of time the Sold or Expired listing data is kept is dependent on each MLS board. Our local system has listings older than 4 years. But, you can get most of that information from the county property tax websites anyway. It's available to the public at no cost. Companies like dataquick and realnet aggregate public records and provide interfaces to make it easier to search, but the data is all there in the tax records. If you want actual copies of Deeds or other recorded info, then you usually have to go down to the courthouse.
Typically, the listing "drops" out of the system after I belive a year. Anything after that, unless the realtor keeps the information, or if the listing is renewd, then its gone.
[addsig]
Massachusetts MLS books had a section in the back that listed the properties sold that year listed by Town.
So all you would need is the December issue of the MLS in order to obtain the info for any property sold during that year.
That was the low tech way.
The info is retained on the computer in order to do comparitive market appraisels, but I dont know how far back you could go.
I would think this to be the same in most states.
JohnNH
In my MLS (which covers something like 35 counties in several states), listing info on properties stays in the system for several years. In fact, one type of search is "history"--you input the address of a property and you get the entire MLS history (for sale, sold, expired, withdrawn, pending) and this can include more than one conveyance for the same property.
I'm not sure I understand what you mean by "dishonest ways." Can you elaborate?