Sarasota Board of Realtors Property Listings

Collection

Identifier: MSS 590

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

This collection contains the real estate listing information cards for various properties in Sarasota County and Manatee County during the 1960s and1970s. The records document many properties concentrated in the Sarasota area, with a few outlying properties on Siesta Key, Longboat Key and Whitfield Estates. The collection is not comprehensive. The records are organized alphabetically by street name or by subdivision if no street address is provided.

Dates

Creation: 1963-1971

Biographical / Historical

The Sarasota Board of Realtors was established as the Realtors Association of Sarasota in 1923. The original officers were Franklin P. Dean, president; E.O. Smith, vice president; and Herbert S. Sawyer, treasurer. They aimed to uphold the Code of Ethics adopted by the National Association of Realtors in 1913. In 1925, the organization was renamed the Sarasota Board of Realtors and 2014 when the name changed again to the Realtor Association of Sarasota and Manatee (RASM). The Board provided continuing education to its members, offering various certificates such as the Certified Real Estate Broker Manager (CRB) and the Certified Commercial Investment member (CCI). The Board also operated a Multiple Listing Service (MLS) system.

According to the National Association of Realtors, the concept of a Multiple Listing Service (MLS) was created as early as 1885 by the San Diego Real Estate Board. The main purpose was to make buying and selling real estate more efficient and convenient. These were used solely by agents to communicate property information to other agents. An MLS is owned and operated by individual real estate associations nationally and each follows a standard created by the Real Estate Standards Organization (RESO). The process of creating a listing requires the realtor to record any necessary information concerning the property being sold. The property goes through an inspection and evaluation. A photograph is taken of the property to have printed along with the listing. Any changes are reported to the MLS office to produce an accurate and current listing. The MLS for the Sarasota Board of Realtors was started in 1957. It provides a means for realtors to better serve the public through cooperation.

Extent

3.5 Cubic Feet

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Physical Location

This collection is stored offsite in a remote storage facility. Materials from the collection can be brought to the Sarasota County History Center for viewing upon request. Please contact the Sarasota County History Center by phone at 941-861-6090 or by email at historycenter@scgov.net at least three business days before your visit to ensure the material will be available when you arrive.

General

The Sarasota County History Center collects historical records and publications that were created over a broad span of time by a wide variety of individuals and groups. Some of the content in these collections may contain language and imagery that today would be considered negative, inappropriate or offensive. The contents of these historical collections do not necessarily reflect the views, beliefs or policies of the History Center, the Department of Libraries and Historical Resources or Sarasota County Government. These materials are made available to the public strictly for research and educational purposes.