Category: MLS

Preserving your seller’s choice in how they want to market their property is a priority for the Bay East MLS. Effective March 30, the Coming Soon Status can be syndicated.

Based on your client’s preference, you will have control over whether Coming Soon listings are syndicated out of the MLS via the Internet Site (Yes/No) and related fields at the time of listing entry.

  • Existing Coming Soon Listings: Will default to Internet Site = No (not syndicated). To enable syndication, update the applicable fields to Yes and select the appropriate distribution options (e.g., “Yes-All Sites, Full address”).
  • New Coming Soon Listings: Select your syndication options at the time of entry.

The MLS Rules will be updated accordingly to reflect this change. This update provides greater flexibility to align with your client’s preferences.

FAQs:

  1. Listing Agreement
    A signed exclusive listing agreement triggers MLS rules. Without a fully executed agreement, MLS requirements do not apply.
  2. MLS Filing & Clear Cooperation
    Listings must be submitted to the MLS within two (2) days after all necessary signatures have been obtained. If a listing is publicly marketed before being entered into the MLS, Clear Cooperation requirements are triggered, and the listing must be submitted within one (1) business day.
  3. Office Exclusive Listings
    Sellers must sign a disclosure form. Public marketing is not permitted. If public marketing occurs, the listing must be entered into the MLS within one (1) business day.
  4. Duration of Coming Soon Status
    Coming Soon status remains in the MLS for 30 days. After 30 days, the listing will automatically change to Coming Soon Cancelled.
  5. Syndication of Coming Soon Listings
    Coming Soon listings will be shared with MLSs that participate in our data sharing. For public portals and websites, syndication will be controlled by the agent or broker based on the client’s preference within the listing entry.
  6. Enforcement
    All MLS rules are enforced locally. Suspected violations should be reported using the Correction button in the MLS or via email to MLSServices@bayeast.org.

MLS Rules Changes Effective March 30.

10.1 Status
Coming Soon – “Coming Soon” is defined as a temporary, optional starting status that can be selected by listing agent. This applies if publicly marketed.

10.1.1 Coming Soon Listings. It shall be the responsibility of the Broker Participant (Section 4.1.1) and Real Estate Subscriber (Section 4.2.1) to follow said rules when placing a property in the Coming Soon section of the multiple listings service (MLS). Broker Participant and Real Estate Subscriber shall only place a property in the Coming Soon section of the MLS if the Participant/Subscriber has met the necessary criteria for MLS input as described in Sections 7.5, 7.6, and 8.1.

Important information surrounding Coming Soon listings:

  1. It is optional to place your listing into the Coming Soon Status.
  2. Listing agent must have a signed written listing agreement in place to enter a “Coming Soon” listing which explains the limitations of the “Coming Soon” status.
  3. Coming Soon listings will be viewable to all MLS Participants.
  4. Coming Soon listings will not be syndicated out to other websites.
  5. Coming Soon listings will not be included in the IDX and data feeds.
  6. Coming Soon listings are not allowed to be placed into open houses or tour modules within the MLS.
  7. Coming Soon listings are only searchable within the Paragon MLS.
  8. Once an agent changes a listing from Coming Soon to New/Active status, it cannot be reverted to Coming Soon status.
  9. Days on Market (DOM) resets when status is changed to New/Active
  10. Agent showing is allowed
  11. Coming Soon Status must clearly state in the Confidential Remarks the seller’s instruction as to whether showings will be permitted or not.
  12. Once Coming Soon status is entered, public marketing is allowed.
  13. Upon request, All Paragon MLS Coming Soon data can be are included in Broker back office data feeds. However, Coming Soon listings may not be displayed or integrated into any public-facing products or websites, except for listings belonging to the listing brokerage.
  14. Photos are optional.
  15. The Coming Soon listing will be automatically placed in a “Cancelled – Coming Soon” status after thirty (30) days of entry.

12.16 Use of Listing Information on Internet. [Also known as Internet Data Exchange (“IDX”)] “Internet Data Exchange” (“IDX”) is a means by which listing brokers permit limited electronic display and delivery of their Active, Pending and sold listing data, in accordance with the IDX rules set forth herein, by other participating Broker Participants and R.E. Subscribers via the following authorized mediums under said Broker Participants and R.E. Subscribers control: websites, mobile apps and audio devices. As used throughout this policy, “display” includes “delivery” of such listings.

  1. Authorization. Subject to paragraphs (b) through below, and subject to an executed IDX Access Agreement with the MLS, notwithstanding anything in these rules and regulations to the contrary, Broker Participants and R.E. Subscribers may electronically display aggregated MLS active, pending and sold listing information through either downloading or by framing such information on the MLS or association public access website (if such a site is available). The MLS’s download will include publicly accessible sold listing data starting from January 1, 2012. “Publicly accessible” sold information as used in the IDX policy and rules, means data that is available electronically or in hard copy to the public from city, county, state, and other government records. [Note: Listings in Coming Soon Status are not authorized for display by this rule.]

Section 12.19.15: A Participant’s VOW may not make available for search by, or display to, Registrants any of the following information:

  1. Coming Soon, Expired or withdrawn listings (Hold, Cancelled).
  2. The type of listing agreement, i.e., exclusive right to sell or seller reserve.
  3. The seller’s and occupant’s name(s), phone number(s), or e-mail address(es).
  4. Instructions or remarks intended for buyer brokers only, such as those regarding showings or security of listed property.

We are pleased to announce a valuable enhancement to the MLS, a brand new status: Sold Off MLS.

What is “Sold Off MLS”?

This new status allows agents to report properties that were closed/sold outside of the MLS.  Meaning, at the seller’s request, the property was never entered into the MLS prior to the sale. 

Why This Matters?

Adding this status helps strengthen our MLS data and better support you and the marketplace. The Sold Off MLS status will:

  • Ensure agents receive proper production credit
  • Strengthen comparable sales data for appraisals and CMAs
  • Maintain accurate and complete market statistics

This is an important step toward capturing a more comprehensive view of our local market activity.

When inputting a new listing onto the MLS, you will see three choices in the Status field:

  • New
  • Active – Coming Soon
  • Sold Off-MLS

Important Reminder

This status is strictly for reporting completed sold transactions that were not previously listed in the MLS.

Before submitting the listing, you must enter: “FOR COMPS ONLY” in the Confidential Remarks field.

Listings that were not input into the MLS as a result of the seller’s instructions may be input into the MLS “Sold off Market” data at the listing broker’s option within 30 days after the closing date.

You may also search for listings with this Status.

If you have any questions or need assistance, our Support Team is here to help at 925.730.7100 or techsupport@bayeast.org.

Thank you for your continued partnership in keeping our MLS data accurate, complete, and valuable to the entire membership.


Friday, Mar 20, 10 pm to Saturday, Mar 21, at 9 am PST.

Clareity (our MLS login security provider) will be performing critical maintenance on Friday, March 20

Paragon MLS will be unavailable to access. For searching, you may use the RPR or Homes.com Pro mobile app.

Thank you for your patience and understanding.  

We frequently receive requests to remove listing photos from the MLS. While we understand the reasons for these requests, California law requires MLSs to retain listing data, including photos, for a minimum of three (3) years. Because of this legal requirement, photos cannot be deleted.

To help accommodate needs while remaining compliant, we offer a “Private” photo option within the MLS system.

What the “Private” Photo Option Does

  • The photo remains stored in the MLS to satisfy legal retention requirements.
  • The photo is excluded from IDX and other third-party data feeds, meaning it will not be distributed to external websites or products.
  • Agents may mark photos as Private while the listing status is Active, Pending, or Hold.

Sold Listings

Once a listing has moved to Sold status, photo changes must be submitted directly to the MLS (mlsservices@bayeast.org) for review and processing.

Important

Any request to update on a Sold listing must come directly from the Listing Agent or Listing Broker.

Our goal is to support your needs while ensuring compliance with State law and MLS policies.

To improve search functionality and provide a more consistent experience for MLS subscribers, the following updates will take effect on April 15, 2026:

  • Character limit to Driving Directions will be increased from 50 to 100
  • Character limit to Public Remarks will be increased to 2,500
  • Number of listing photo will be increased from 60 to 99
  • Feature categories of Water and Sewer will be separated to its own category
  • Add “Taxiway Properties” as a selectable value in:X – Lot Description (Residential Class)H – Lot Description (Lots & Land Class)
  • Add “Aircraft Hangar” as a selectable value in:N – Garage/Parking (Residential Class)

California Regional MLS (CRMLS), with whom we maintain a data share agreement, has implemented a rule requiring that only the primary photo be displayed for Sold listings within the IDX data feed. All IDX displays containing CRMLS data are required to comply with this rule.

At this time, we are not technically able to suppress only the non-primary photos for Sold listings from the CRMLS portion of our IDX feed while continuing to provide the remaining listing data.

To ensure compliance with CRMLS rules and our data share agreement, we will be temporarily removing CRMLS listing data from our IDX data feed effective 3/2/2026, until further notice.

Please note: This change applies only to the IDX data feed and public website displays. It does not impact the ability to view all listing photos, including Sold listings, within the Paragon MLS system.

This step is being taken solely to remain in compliance. We are actively evaluating technical solutions and will provide updates as soon as additional options become available.

If you have any questions, please contact our MLS team at mlsservices@bayeast.org.

MLS Requirements for Sellers & Listing Agents (Disclosure Only)

Effective January 1, 2026, sellers and listing agents marketing a single-family home or duplex in Berkeley are required to comply with BESO MLS disclosure rules, which are actively monitored by the City of Berkeley.

For applicable Berkeley properties, the seller and listing agent must:

  • Obtain a Home Energy Score
  • Include the Home Energy Score in the MLS Public Remarks

**Enforcement Notice**

Failure to obtain a Home Energy Score and include it in the MLS Public Remarks will result in a $500 non-compliance fee assessed by the City of Berkeley to the seller.

Required Language for MLS Public Remarks

  • Single-family homes:
    “Home Energy Score of [#].”
  • Multi-unit buildings:
    “Home Energy Score of [#] for [Unit Identifier], [#] for [Unit Identifier].”

BESO Resilience Upgrade Requirement (Separate from MLS Rules)

Under Berkeley’s Building Emissions Saving Ordinance (BESO), sellers must either complete required resilience upgrades prior to sale or defer the obligation to the buyer in accordance with City rules. Qualifying upgrades may include heat pump space or water heating, and electrical panel upgrades among others. These requirements are separate from MLS disclosure obligations and are enforced by the City of Berkeley.

Helpful Resources

Realtor.com® and Bay East Association of Realtors® have launched a new strategic partnership, driven by a shared vision: elevating the role of the professional by equipping you with powerful, cutting-edge tools. The first product delivered from this powerful collaboration is Realtor.com+: a collaborative home search for professionals and clients that helps them stay in sync from click to close.

Read more.

California Assembly Bill 723 (AB 723) is intended to ensure that listing photos accurately represent the true appearance of a property and do not mislead buyers. The law does not prohibit photo editing; rather, it requires disclosure when images have been altered and the inclusion of unedited photos to clearly distinguish original from modified images.

Read more.

On December 9, when you log in to Paragon, you’ll be asked to review and accept the End-User License Agreement (EULA).

To accept:

  • Type your name exactly as it appears on the EULA screen.
    (Make sure to match upper and lowercase letters — it’s case-sensitive.)
  • After signing, you’ll automatically return to Paragon and receive a copy of the agreement.

Each year, the MLS must renew its registration with the U.S. Copyright Office to protect the listing data.
As part of this process, every MLS user must renew their EULA annually.

If you have any questions, contact MLS Support at 925.730.7100 or mlsservices@bayeast.org.