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Is Your MLS Lying? Part II

By
Real Estate Agent with Coldwell Banker - Pinecrest (Miami) Broker 3058544

When I read Diane Aurit's blog Is Your MLS Lying it got me to thinking, what bothers me even more than incorrect closing date is "days on market".

Here's an example: (I have erased part of the MLS number and agent ID for privacy reasons)

Pinecrest Florida Property History Report

When this property is looked at in search results it show that it was on the market for 25 days, statistical reports will calculate this listing as being on the market for 25 days.

Now when you dig deeper and look up this property's history you see that it was on the market with the first agent for 90 days, it expired, then a second agent listed the property.  Into the second agent's listing period is went under contract on the 25th day.  Therefore, this property was really on the market for 115 days - not 25. This is a big difference, especially when dealing with Seller's expectations.

This is why when I put together a CMA I look up the history of each listing I'm using in the report; I actually count the days and add them all up. It can make a very big difference.  

Posted by

Marie StoryMarie StoryMarie Story QR Code

Broker Associate, ABR,CIPS,GRI,TRC        

Celebrating My 23rd Year in Real Estate

Coldwell Banker 

12651 Pinecrest Parkway (US1)

Pinecrest (Miami), FL 33156

305-776-0010

Pinecrest Florida   ~ My Website   ~   Pinecrest Homes For Sale

Vickie Nagy
Coldwell Banker Residential Real Estate - Palm Springs, CA
Vickie Jean the Palm Springs Condo Queen

That's why my MLS has DOM AND CDOM. CDOM is cumulative days on market. And you're right, this can be VERY interesting.

Sep 03, 2009 07:30 AM
Elizabeth Bolton
RE/MAX Destiny Real Estate Cambridge, MA - Cambridge, MA
Cambridge MA Realtor

Hi Marie ~ Somebody in our MLS got the DOM bee in his bonnet a few years ago and changed the DOM to CDOM.  My take on it has always been that it is inexplicable to me why real estate "goes bad" if it's on the shelf too long.  We don't question how long most things have been for sale but are obsessed with DOM for real estate.

Especially given that in our MLS you can get the entire market history with one click from the property listing I think it is doing the sellers a disservice by insisting that the cumulative number is the number that is shown.

It goes to what is the purpose of the MLS - to get statistical data to report or to assist in the selling of property.  I'm the camp that believes it's the latter.  Unfortunately my MLS seems to be obsessed with the reporting aspect.

Liz

Sep 03, 2009 12:46 PM