MLS Info

"The New York Stock Exchange of real estate" is how William E. Malkasian, executive vice president of the Wisconsin Realtors Association describes MLS (Multiple Listing Service).* MLS is the primary source of real estate information- what's for sale, what is sold and for how much. It makes it possible for buyers to search for houses from all across the country, all from one directory.

On May 22, 2000, the National Association of REALTORS® adopted a policy that allows MLS participants to display each other's listings on their website. The policy is called NAR's Internet Data Exchange (IDX) Policy. This policy is also known as "broker reciprocity." Technical specifications, RETS-XML (The Real Estate Transaction Standard), were given to provide a standard for displaying MLS information. Sites4Brokers developed the first website in the country that complied with these standards.

With MLS listings on your website your site can become an international or regional real estate resource. Visitors can browse your property listings and listings of other brokers in a specified area. This gives your consumers a broader range of choices when looking for property in your markets and adds to your site's appeal and traffic. You also benefit by earning a percentage of each sale made through your website.

*Quote taken from The Milwaukee Business Journal Sentinel Business Section, Monday October 4, 1999.

Read The Dawning of the Age of IDX by Joe Frey
(http://www.realtor.org/realtororg.nsf/pages/dawnofIDX?OpenDocument)

Pricing for MLS integration may vary depending on which listing chapter you are in. To give you an idea, the price for RETS-XML integration for the Southeastern Wisconsin MLS Chapter is $1000. Contact us for a quote on the price of MLS broker reciprocity in your area.