NOTE: Please be aware that this page is provided for informational purposes only. You should consult your Broker or a licensed Real Estate Attorney before you make any qualified statements of certainty.
Once you have correctly selected the best Property Subtype value (click here for that information) you must assign between 1 (minimum) and 6 (maximum) Subtype Description values to your listing. Try to use the shortest list of real, applicable, subtype values on your listing to ensure that the display of your listing is concise on reports and that it clearly and correctly appears in grids and searches.
It is not a good idea to try to pack your listing with unnecessary values, as this will hurt, not help, you search result optimization. By being precise you will achieve the best results. Please be aware that Subtype Description values are less rigid than Property Subtype, and the descriptions here are open to some interpretation. Making an effort to best represent the truth of the property will always serve you, and the Agent community, well.
Definitions and short codes that you may see on reports and search results are as follows.
DWELLING DESCRIPTORS
Attached (ATCH) - the primary structure is attached to another structure that is not included in the sale.
Custom (CSTM) - the design of the structure is entirely unique and built from spec architect plans which should be (but are not required to be) included in the sale.
Detached (DTCH) - the primary structure is free standing and is not attached to any other structures.
Live/Work (LVWK) - the structure is intended for dual purpose live/work.
Modified (MDFD) - the structure has been heavily modified from its original design or purpose, frequently including the redesign plans used.
Planned Unit Develop (PLND) - a specific type of building that similar, but different from a Tenancy in Common.
Ranchette/Country (RNCH) - The home is "country" in nature.
Semi-Attached (SMAT) - the primary structure shares only one wall with another structure and typically it is not a 'living space' wall (i.e. conjoined garages).
Semi-Custom (SMIC) - the design of the structure starts from a plan, which is intended to be partially customized during construction.
Tract (TRCT) - A type of repeated, row, or designed subdivion where all homes are nearly identical.
APARTMENT CONDOMINIUM DESCRIPTORS
Flat (FLAT) - similar to an apartment, a Flat is a housing unit that is self-contained but is part of a larger building with a shared entry.
Junior (JUNR) - a type of hybrid 1-bedroom/studio commonly found in the City, a Junior suite usually features partial walls or fixed dividers.
Studio (STUD) - a Studio unit is typically efficiency in nature and does not have distinct bedrooms or secondary rooms (other than a bathroom).
Loft (LOFT) - a large, adaptable and open space, often converted for residential use from some other use (typically light industrial).
Luxury (LXRY) - a descriptor that can be used to emphasize the exceptionally high-end quality of the unit (or home).
MULTIFLOOR DESCRIPTORS
Low-Rise (1-3) (LOWR) - the unit for sale is in a low-rise building not higher than 3 floors.
Mid-Rise (4-8) (MIDR) - the unit for sale is in a building with 4 to 8 floors.
Hi-Rise (9+) (HIRS) - the unit for sale is in a building with 9 or more floors.
The groupings above are for ease of reference and it is possible for a listing to have a valid value from many sections as appropriate. Use the above explanations as a guide to setting up your listing correctly.
NORCAL MLS ALLIANCE CONSIDERATIONS
Prior to 2021: During conversion and launch in January 2021, technical teams used a "best effort" approach to detect and decode these values from various source fields in our own data, and also in the data of our reciprocal MLS partners. Where possible, the conversion processes set them as appropriate, but it is possible to find missing or incorrect values for existing converted data prior to launch (anything from 2020 or earlier). We planned that this field would grow in accuracy as we go forward into the future with Agents assigning correct values on their new listings.
After 2021: Every time a listing is pulled in from an external MLS source, it is run through the same type of data field mapping process that was used during conversion. This means that from time to time you may find a listing with an incorrect Property Subtype or value selected in the Subtype Description group. If you find such a problem, please send an email to the MLS team so that a support ticket can be created and follow up with our partner can be started.