Real Estate Topics - Reading "Between The Lines" on MLS Sheets

Real Estate Topics
Reading “Between The Lines” on MLS Sheets

Note the MLS number on the top line just to the right of the photo area. This number is unique and is the same on REALTOR.COM. It also appears on many agent web sites and in advertising.

Ignore the fields called CITY and ZIP. This simply indicates which post office delivers the mail. There are homes in Cary that get their mail from Apex or Morrisville.

If you want to know if a property is within city limits, look about mid-page for the IN CITY field.

The lot size appears twice. On the upper part of the page, it is a specific figure, given in acres. In the FEATURES section, it is a range. This is used for searching.

Square footage of the dwelling is approximate. Ditto for room sizes. The listing agent is supposed to differentiate between “heated, finished” square feet and that which is unheated or which is not finished to the same standard of the rest of the house. BELOW GRADE indicates square footage where dirt touches any wall, such as in a split level or split foyer house.

DOM stands for “days on market”. It gives you an indication of how long the property has been listed under this specific MLS number. It will not show if another agent listed the house, previously. Or if the listing agent withdrew the listing and put it back into the system, thus turning the DOM counter back to zero. I have ways to get the true DOM figure, along with price changes. This will be done for any homes that are under consideration.

Paul Folmsbee, REALTOR

RE/MAX Integrity