MLS News

Tempo^TM Wireless

There were 23 new subscribers in December for a total of 665 participants at year end (9 percent of the membership). Palm remains the device most used and Verizon Wireless remains the #1 selected carrier.

Tempo^TM 5 Training Classes

Tempo 5 Preview Training is an introduction to Tempo 5, the latest release and major revision to the current MLS software, Tempo MLS. Topics Covered: Introduction to all facets new and old of Tempo 5 including creating and saving searches, creating CLS and prospects, setting preferences and uploading graphics, and other general functionality changes and enhancements. This class will be lecture style, not hands on. Cost is $20 if CE (2 credit hours) is desired.

There are 48 two-hour training classes scheduled in late February and early March. Most are scheduled Monday --Friday during business hours. However, there are three Saturday classes available on February 23. Please register online as soon as possible.

You must now use grid coordinates from the 7th edition or later Rand McNally atlas

It was brought to our attention that members are using grid coordinates from various resources including early CBR MLS atlas maps. It is important that listings have the newest Rand McNally map grid coordinates for searches.

Therefore, MLS members will be required to add the Rand McNally atlas map coordinates and page numbers to all of their new, active and contingent listings by March 31, 2008.

You are reminded to use the data from the 7th edition or later version of the Rand McNally atlas.

IDX Guidelines expanded 

Section 16.3.3 of the IDX Guidelines states that broker's web sites must identify all listings other than the participant broker's own listings with the name and phone number of both the listing broker (or brokerage) and listing agent. 

When displayed, the other listing company and agent names must be the same style and size type as that of the host broker's name.

This guideline now also applies to materials generated from the site ? including reports that are generated and/or printed from the web site as well as any communications sent from the web site via email.

So, if your web site has a `print' option, the listing company and agent names and phone numbers must appear on the printed piece. And, if your web site offers the option to email the MLS info to another party, that email must also include the listing broker and agent names and phone numbers.

Auto-Pop features are changing

As your MLS system moves from an arbitrarily assigned area database to one that is more technologically dependent for identifying property location, CBR leadership has recently approved the following changes to the CBR MLS TEMPO? system that you will see as part of the TEMPO 5 system.

It's important to note that while the familiar MLS areas will initially remain as part of the TEMPO 5 system, it is also necessary to continue building an accurate database in property description fields that will serve to assist you in finding properties in searches both now and in the future for you and your clients. Therefore, the MLS auto-pop feature that retrieves data from Realist and automatically places it in the proper data fields on your new listings will be modified to help create data integrity for your listings and the MLS.

Once a listing is entered using the auto-pop feature and then saved as a new listing, the (1) city and (2) taxing district will become data fields that cannot be modified except by MLS staff.

Additionally, if the parcel number is entered manually and therefore triggers the auto-pop for the (1) street number, (2) street name, (3) street direction and (4) zip code, they will also default to data fields that cannot be modified except by MLS staff.

This practice will help insure both the accuracy of the data being entered in the same manner by everyone and therefore searchable in the same manner by everyone.

Please note that in the event you believe auto-popped data is inaccurate, you can call MLS to help do the necessary research to find the proper entry for the data field.

There are also three data fields that will no longer be auto-popped based on the alleged high degree of inaccuracy of the information identified by REALTORS®: (1) Bedrooms; (2) Baths; and (3) Half baths. The agent or administrator will need to enter the information for these three data fields based on the entry found on the residential listing worksheet that is part of the agreement completed with the seller.

Finally, we will be working with local auditors and Realist in an attempt to find ways to auto-pop other data fields for you such as (1) municipality and (2) school district again solely in an attempt to continue to improve MLS data integrity.

Since several of these data fields are occasionally a source of confusion and therefore sometimes result in warnings and fines for entry of inaccurate data, these changes should serve to help members avoid any inadvertent penalties.

We will continue to keep you apprised of the changes you will see in the upcoming TEMPO 5 system expected in late February or early March 2008 and encourage you to plan on attending one of the training classes designed to help you in this transition.