How to Find an Old MLS Listing
In the late 1800s, real estate agents needed a way to encourage other agents to show their listings to prospective buyers. This need was the catalyst for the multiple listing service, commonly referred to as MLS. Multiple listing services are privately owned databases, typically managed by regional Realtors or real estate professionals. MLS data is not open to the general public, yet members of the National Association of Realtors typically include their current MLS listings on the Realtor.com website. The ability to find an old MLS listing will depend on the specific database and its policies.
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Instructions
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Identify the MLS area that included the listing. Since there are thousands of MLS databases across the country, you will need to know the state, city or general vicinity of the listing, in order to pinpoint the correct MLS service.
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Contact a Realtor located in the MLS vicinity. A Realtor is a real estate professional who is a member of the National Association of Realtors, a professional organization. Realtors will have access to MLS listings in their area.
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Ask the Realtor for information on the old listing in their region. You must have some way to identify the listing, such as an address or MLS number. MLS numbers are only unique to a specific database, and it is possible to have other properties with the same MLS number, in other MLS systems. If the old MLS listing is still included in the database, the Realtor can get you a printout of the listing, providing it does not violate the rules of the specific MLS.
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References
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