History of our MLS#'s - No really It's Interesting

As we approach the 7-digit MLS number 1,000,000 in RealtyWEB’s flexmls system, I wanted to share a little bit of history about MLS#’s in Northeast Florida. 

First, the concept of a Multiple Listing service in one form or another dates back to the 1800’s.

During the 60’s the MLS book and listing sheets were the tools of the trade.  

The 1970’s introduced the MLS computer to the local MLS’s.  At that time there were 3 separate MLS’s; The Jacksonville MLS, the Jacksonville Beaches MLS, and the Clay County MLS. 

In 1985 the leadership of these three MLS’s bravely decided to combine their data into a single source of information for their members. 

And that is where this story begins:

The MLS#’s all began with a letter; J for a Jacksonville MLS office, B for a Beaches MLS office, or C for a Clay County MLS office.  So they looked like this:

                                                                J12345

                                                                B12345

                                                                C12345

Then in 1994 the three separate MLSs merged to form the Northeast Florida Multiple Listing Inc.-NEFMLS. That is when the MLS system began using 6 digits.  At that time, we were able to make the numbering scheme begin with the last number of the current year.  So 1994 listings began with a 4, 1995 listings began with a 5 and so on.

                                                                423456 then 523456…

You may also find 4 digit MLS#’s due to MLS system conversions and the introduction of Putnam County in 1999 as part of our organization.  To avoid duplication with Putnam County MLS#’s, their listings were brought in with a 4 digit number as well.

                                      1245 can still be viewed as part of the database today

Using the last digit of the year worked great until the year 2000.  Many of you remember the ominous 1999 rollover year. This one is fuzzy in my memory bank but it appears the MLS#’s continued with a six-digit format and began with the number 1.

                                                                123456

This format continues to the present day.  There was no duplication of listing numbers because many years ago the previous MLS vendor was only able to keep two years of history. So, when we changed to the flexmls system in 2003, there was data from 2001 brought into the MLS system.  The first MLS# I can find that was entered since switching to the flexmls system is

                                                                171462

In researching the data as of this writing, we are technically 110,000 listings away from reaching a true million in flexmls. So, I will leave it to you to decide. Is it a true one-millionth listing, just a 7-digit MLS number, or way more than 1,000,000?   But it’s still fun and we’ll be watching! Will there be a prize?  Who will have the lucky number? Let the count-up begin.


Be sure to watch our videos on the history of the NEFMLS No really - it's interesting too.