Carol,

The T is just an MLS code for any listings originating out of a real estate brokerages with their office based in Tampa known as GTAR or the Greater Tampa Assoc. of Realtors. In Pinellas County , PRO aka Pinellas Realtor Organization is our MLS association. Another way of idenifying information is GTAR numbers start with a 2 and PRO numbers start with a 7. Both associations share information. The letter has nothing to do with foreclosures, bank owned or short sales.

Pam Cohn
Broker Associate
Prudential Tropical Realty
pcohn@prutropical.com

All Greater Tampa Assn of Realtors listings start with a "T". Unfortunately the Pinellas and Tampa Realtor boards parted ways (not for the benefit of the members in my opinion) and are on two separate MLS systems with different rules. When you see an active listing that starts with a "T" in Tampa it should be genuinely "active" and available for you to buy. With Pinellas listings an "active" listing may actually be tied up in a contract because Pinellas allows an "Active with Contract" category that translates to "active" on most websites.

The Tampa and Pinellas Realtors need to revolt and get on the same system... in fact there is no reason with technology why we couldn't have just one MLS system for the entire state of Florida--or better yet the entire US! We could likely lower our MLS fees substantially while providing better service to our clients!

Sorry to rant, Carol, but it really is a pet peave of mine of how the various Realtor boards operate against the best interests of the Realtors and their clients...

Wow, this questions comes up a lot. The "T" is a prefix code meaning a member from the Greater Tampa Association of REALTORS, aka "GTAR" listed the property. It does not mean the REALTOR is from Tampa. I personally, as a Pinellas resident, join many boards including GTAR to have MLS access to over 13 counties throughout Central Florida, instead of one local area. That way I can offer my customers a larger coverage. All the other counties may have a letter prefix representing their local boards before the MLS # if you are working with a broker who has purchased access to the "My Florida Regional MLS" system. For example... "U" is a listing which was listed through a member of the Pinellas local board, but you simply recieved its info through a REALTOR who is a GTAR member with this MLS system. ***Please note ALL REALTORS must follow the same strict code of ethics since they are all members of the National and Florida Association of REALTORS. Our code of ethics does not change board to board. We are all regulated by state law as licensees.

The "T" or any letter that appears before the MLS number in the Central FL market as well as Part of SE FL market is simply part of the MLS's numbering system. The letter means absolutely nothing about the property itself. The letter that is assigned to a REALTORS listing has to do with what local board of REALTORS that agents office is a member of. For instance, if a REALTORS office is a member of the Orlando board of REALTORS the letter all of the agents in that office will have in front of the MLS number is the letter "O" regardless of where the agent personally operates or where the property is located even if the property is in Tampa, Sarasota, etc..

Hi Carol, I'm a buyer too. It " T" stands for Foreclosure in my experience. I have asked realtors the same question and got the same responce that you did. But I don't believe them. What would U stand for? My thought--- Going to foreclosure. Good luck.

Carol, just an additional piece of info which may or may not be pertinent in your case--if a listing in Largo, for instance, has an MLS# with a "T", it would mean that the listing agent belnogs to the Tampa Board of Realtors, not the Pinellas Board, therefore may not be subject to the same regulations as a local Realtor.

Here in South Florida "M" would indicate that the listing agent palced the listing via the Greater Miami & The Beaches Board of Realtors®. "D" would represent the Miami-Dade Realtor® Association, etc.

Like Bill stated, it just represents the originating board of input.

Carol,

It is a reference that has no significance to the listing or its status. It is simply a "letter designation" for the real estate board area the listing is located in ie. O=Orlando, T=Tampa, N=Naples etc.

Hope this is helpful.

Great question.