NorCal MLS Alliance Data Share Tips/Tricks & Known Issues
While the response to the new NorCal MLS Alliance data share initiative has been overwhelmingly positive, we understand the landscape can be a little complicated at first, particularly for a project this massive and requiring lots of information exchange between multiple MLSs and systems.
With that in mind, here are some handy tips and tricks to help you navigate the new data share ecosystem, plus a few known issues that we’ve corrected or are in process of resolving:
Handy Tips and Tricks
| Area | Issue | Alternative/Workaround | Additional Workaround | Further Notes |
| Searching by MLS number | Now we have MLS numbers from all the different MLSs that are participating in the data share. Each listing number begins with two letters that identifies the originating MLS | The best way to search by MLS number would be to put an * in front of the number and it will search for any listing, from any MLS, with that matching number. | If you know which MLS the listing came from you can put the two letter code for that MLS before the listing number | The MLS identifier on the MLS listing numbers are as follows:
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| The Reciprocal Data Access Button | All data, from each of those MLSs, is now available in Matrix and it is no longer necessary to go into the other MLS systems to get data or to enter new listings | Now, when you enter a new listing in to MLSListings, that listing is posted on all the other MLS data bases. | You may now search in your own home Matrix system for listings in all seven MLSs in the data share. | We purposely left those buttons on the Pro site to help point the user back to the Matrix system where they could find the needed information |
| Coming Soon/Members Only | While we were able to agree on most Rules of Engagement there is not yet agreement on how to handle (formerly known as Coming Soon) the distribution and sharing of listings that fall under these categories. | At this time these listings are not “cross-displayed” between MLSs. We are working on a solution but in the meantime you will only see Members Only listings from MLSListings. | You will not see Coming Soon listings from the other MLSs. |
Known Issues – Last Updated 3/24/21 at 9:13 am
| Area | Issue | Alternative/Workaround | Estimated Resolution | Further Notes |
| Matrix | Some listing data may be missing in Matrix | While we believe most listings are in the system, we are aware that some Metrolist listings and a small number from the other MLSs are missing because of a server failure in their system. | Our engineers are working with the other MLSs to track down the problem and should have a solution in the near future. | If you are aware of missing data, please report it to support@mlslistings.com |
| Rapattoni | A subset of Rapattoni listings that were listed by agents in SFAR,BAREIS, and/or MetroList are missing listing broker and agent information. | We have chosen to present the partial data so that you are still aware of listings that are active in the marketplace. | Rapattoni is working diligently to provide us with the remainder of the data. | |
| Areas | SFAR – Doesn’t have areas, but rather has “Districts” and “Sub Districts”. Virtually all searches are done based on “Sub Districts” and when you are searching for properties in San Francisco, those “Sub Districts” are listed under “Area’. When you enter San Francisco County or City the list of areas changes to the “Sub Districts”. | See screenshots below |