Overview

Historically, the MLS has displayed two data fields on listings to convey time on market: “Days on Market (DOM)” and “Cumulative Days on Market (CDOM).”

As of February 1, 2023, only one field will display in the MLS related to a listing’s time on the market. This new field will be called “Days on Market” and will appear on listing reports as “DOM.”

The new DOM field is more closely aligned with the prior CDOM calculation and is based on how long a specific property, based on tax ID number, is on the MLS in the “Active” or “Backup” status with a specific office of a brokerage.

Click here to watch a video explaining the details of these changes, or please reference the FAQ below titled “How will the new DOM field be calculated?”

How is the new DOM field calculated?

The new DOM field calculates a property’s time on market by using an updated calculation method, which is as follows:

• Property Specific: DOM is calculated by how long a specific property, based on tax ID number, is on the MLS in the “Active” or “Backup” status with a specific office of a brokerage.
  • Note: “Office” means an individual office (i.e. a branch office) and does NOT refer to an entire brokerage firm or company. The calculation is not based on how long a property is listed on the MLS by a brokerage firm (i.e. all branch offices that are part of a company with the same Principal Broker), but rather how long a property was listed by any agent within a specific branch office.
  • Example: ABC Realty’s brokerage firm is made up of three branch offices located in Ogden, Salt Lake, and Orem that are all under the same Principal Broker. Each branch office individually is an “office” for purposes of the DOM calculation.

• Statuses Impacting DOM: The updated calculation DOES NOT change how DOM increases or pauses.
  • DOM Increases: “Active” or “Backup” status
  • DOM Pauses: “Active – No Show,” “Withdrawn,” or “Under Contract” status

• New Listings and DOM: In almost all cases, a new listing added to the MLS will start with zero DOM. DOM will carry over from a prior listing to a new listing in two very specific scenarios, as described below.
  • DOM Carries Over from a Prior Listing: DOM from a prior listing on the same tax ID number will carry over and continue to accumulate on a new listing if ALL of the following are satisfied:
    • Listing is changed to the “Canceled” or “Expired” status
    • Same property is re-listed on the MLS within 30 calendar days
    • The new listing is listed by the same listing agent or by anyone else in the same branch office
  • DOM Starts at Zero: DOM will start at zero for a new listing added to the MLS in each of the below situations:
    • A property is listed on the MLS with an agent from a different brokerage
    • A property is listed on the MLS by an agent in a different branch office
    • The property has not been listed on the MLS in the last 30 calendar days
    • The prior listing for the property with that tax ID number sold
    • If a Certificate of Occupancy for the prior new construction listing is provided

Click here to watch a video summarizing these changes.

When did this change take place?

February 1, 2023

Why was this change made?

Having two fields to represent time on market can cause confusion.

Specifically, this change has been discussed for several years based on membership feedback and frustration related to an increase in listings where real estate professionals have canceled and immediately re-listed properties so that the former Days on Market field would reset to zero. URE has received many complaints about this practice, as it does not represent the true picture of a property. The UtahRealEstate.com Board of Directors and our local REALTOR® Associations agree that the practice of using a loophole in the MLS system to represent a previously marketed property as “new” violates the REALTOR® Code of Ethics, which requires REALTORS® to present a true picture in their advertising and prohibits misleading consumers. This change will ultimately provide more market transparency and accuracy to everyone that uses the MLS.

After soliciting feedback on this proposal from the boards of directors for each of our shareholder associations, the UtahRealEstate.com Board of Directors approved this change in late 2022.

Click here to watch a video by the 2022 Chair of the UtahRealEstate.com Board of Directors summarizing why these changes were made.

Where is the MLS Rule related to this change?

“1.32 DOM. The calculation of days on market (“DOM”) is specific to a property, is based on the property tax identification number, and carries over to subsequent Listings for the same property. DOM is calculated as follows:

• DOM accumulates or increases when a Listing is in “Active” or “Backup” status.
• DOM pauses when a Listing is in the “Active – No Show,” “Withdrawn,” or “Under Contract” status.
• DOM resets to zero if any of the following occur:
  • The property is not listed on the MLS for 30 consecutive calendar days;
  • The property is listed with a new brokerage office;
  • The property incurs a change in ownership;
  • In the case of a Listing for new construction or a “to be built” property, the DOM will reset to zero upon completion of construction, delivery to the MLS of a certificate of occupancy issued by the applicable governmental authority, and submission of a new Listing that complies with the Rules.”

What happens if I cancel and re-list my listing?

If Re-Listed After 30 Calendar Days: If you re-list a property that you previously changed to the “Canceled” status on the MLS, and it has been at least 30 calendar days since canceling your last listing, your new listing would show zero DOM.

If Re-Listed within 30 Calendar Days: If a listing that has been on the market for a period of time is changed to the “Canceled” status, and re-listed by the same agent or by another agent in the same branch office within a 30 day period, the DOM value for the prior listing will carry over to the new listing and the DOM will continue to increase or accumulate while the listing is in the “Active” or “Backup” status.

Example:

• John Smith has a listing in the Active status for 180 calendar days, before the seller cancels the listing agreement. The Days on Market for that Canceled listing would be 180.
• A week later, John signs a new listing agreement for the same property, and lists the property on the MLS
• That new listing added to the MLS would start with showing 180 Days on Market and will continue to accumulate days while in the “Active” or “Backup” status

A key element of the change is related to the brokerage office that last listed a property. How is “office” being defined?

For purposes of the updated DOM calculation and MLS Rules related to this change, a “brokerage office” or “office” refers to a specific branch office within a brokerage firm or company. For example, ABC Realty’s brokerage firm is made up of three branch offices located in Ogden, Salt Lake, and Orem that are all under the same Principal Broker. Each branch office individually is an “office” for purposes of the updated DOM calculation and MLS Rule related to this change.

The calculation and rule are not based on how long a property is marketed by a brokerage firm (i.e. all branch offices that are part of a company with the same Principal Broker), but rather how long a property was marketed by any agent within a specific branch office.

Example:

• An agent in ABC Realty Salt Lake has a listing on the MLS showing 365 DOM.
• That agent’s listing expires
• An agent in ABC Realty Orem takes over the listing and signs a new listing agreement.
• When that listing is added to the MLS, the DOM would start at zero, because even though both offices are part of the same brokerage firm or company, ABC Realty Salt Lake and ABC Realty Orem are two different brokerage “offices.”
• On the other hand, if, for example, the initial listing was re-listed with another agent in ABC Realty Salt Lake, and that listing was added to the MLS within 30 calendar days of the prior listing expiring, the DOM of 365 from the prior listing would carry over to the new listing.

What happens if I take over a listing that was previously with another branch office, or with another brokerage firm/company?

DOM for the new listing would start at zero, regardless of when you add the listing to the MLS. DOM would start at zero, because the prior listing was not listed with your specific branch office.

My listing has Expired. How does this impact DOM on my listing?

If your listing has expired, and you enter a new listing for the same property within 30 calendar days of the expiration date, DOM from the prior listing will carry over to your new listing.

Does the new DOM calculation apply to listings entered before February 1, 2023?

Yes, the updated DOM calculation will be applied retroactively to all listings entered prior to February 1, 2023 that are in the following statuses ONLY: “Active,” “Backup,” “Under Contract,” “Active – No Show,” or “Withdrawn” status.

For historical listings that are “Sold,” “Canceled,” or “Expired,” the new DOM field on those listings will reflect the CDOM value associated with that listing prior to this change.

How does DOM work for newly completed construction where a Certificate of Occupancy has been issued?

In general, if you use the MLS to market a property that is under construction or “to be built” and construction of that property is completed with a Certificate of Occupancy being issued, you can enter a new listing into the MLS for that newly constructed property. DOM from the prior listing, if the new listing is added by the same brokerage office within 30 days, will carry over to the new listing, unless a Certificate of Occupancy is provided. If a Certificate of Occupancy is filed for the new listing, UtahRealEstate.com staff can administratively reset the DOM on your new listing to zero.