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.
