MLS data crimp blamed on glitch

SANDPOINT — Officials from the Selkirk Association of Realtors told Bonner County commissioners on Wednesday that they are working to iron out a software glitch that was preventing the assessor’s office from receiving data from its Multiple Listing Service.

Assessor Jerry Clemons estimated his office was receiving less than half of the real estate sales information the association was contractually obligated to supply.

“We were laboring under the impression for quite a while that they were giving us all the information. But we came to believe that they weren’t,” Clemons said during an earlier meeting on the topic that was held on Tuesday.

But association executive Stephanie Rief told commissioners on Wednesday that they were unaware the county wasn’t receiving all the data and determined that the problem stemmed from the feed from an off-site MLS provider.

Rief said the MLS data does not come from the association.

“It is provided in a feed directly from our MLS software provider to the assessor’s office so it kind of bypasses us,” Rief told commissioners on Wednesday.

Clemons said his office received data for approximately 363 sales last year, but SAR reported there were 645 in 2013. The assessor’s office uses the MLS data to develop accurate property valuations.

Commission Chairman Cary Kelly recommended a check-and-balance system to alert the county when it becomes apparent when not all the data is coming across.

“It’s a systemic problem,” said Kelly.

Jim Haynes, president of SAR’s board of directors, said the group would be willing to provide the county with sales information on a monthly, quarterly or annual basis.