Free alternative to MLS/IDX interest?

[james3]

Hello,

Great forum. I've been following several threads here regarding the syndication and use of MLS data. I was once looking to build a local listing aggregator site, which would crawl local broker sites and index their listings, then display them in a central place, in a much cleaner format, with RSS feeds and a handful of other useful tools. Unfortunately, it sounds like even though many brokers display MLS listings on their websites publicly, and which are crawled and indexed by Google and other search engines, feeding off of this data and using it to power another website will likely land you on MLS PIN's naughty list.

I see many people here asking about the existence of an "open" IDX solution or free listings database, yet I don't see anyone recommending anything. Is there enough interest in this? I mean, essentially if you can't feed off of the MLS database, then you need another one, but brokers would need to realize the power of it, jump on board and submit their listings to it.

Brokers, is this something you would submit your listings to? Why or why not? (This would assume you would have privacy control over your listings, with the ability to make some public, and others exclusive, etc.).

I'm just curious as to why it doesn't exist since it's a trivial system to build and deploy.

Feedback?

[CLTMichael]

I don't follow your question. Would brokers submit their listings to what? They already submit their listings to the MLS which is spread out through the IDX feed.

Hello,

Great forum. I've been following several threads here regarding the syndication and use of MLS data. I was once looking to build a local listing aggregator site, which would crawl local broker sites and index their listings, then display them in a central place, in a much cleaner format, with RSS feeds and a handful of other useful tools. Unfortunately, it sounds like even though many brokers display MLS listings on their websites publicly, and which are crawled and indexed by Google and other search engines, feeding off of this data and using it to power another website will likely land you on MLS PIN's naughty list.

I see many people here asking about the existence of an "open" IDX solution or free listings database, yet I don't see anyone recommending anything. Is there enough interest in this? I mean, essentially if you can't feed off of the MLS database, then you need another one, but brokers would need to realize the power of it, jump on board and submit their listings to it.

Brokers, is this something you would submit your listings to? Why or why not? (This would assume you would have privacy control over your listings, with the ability to make some public, and others exclusive, etc.).

I'm just curious as to why it doesn't exist since it's a trivial system to build and deploy.

Feedback?

[james3]

Yes, but it's an antiquated system that's proprietary, feels limited and costs money. Why isn't there an MLS competitor that's cheaper or free, and that does the complete job? There are so many databases in different regions and with separate staffing, etc. The purpose of the MLS, unless I am mistaken, is to facilitate exchange of useful information about real estate. I feel it could be done much better and at a fraction of the cost. Since my background isn't primarily real estate, I'm asking brokers if they would consider participating in something else if it existed, why or why not, or if they're 100% satisfied with MLS.

[RonnieG]

There are already many MLS software vendors and products. Realtor associations and MLS companies already choose the vendors and software products that best suit their particular markets, or build their systems themselves. It is not a matter of technologies. It is a matter of critical mass. Virtually all properties for sale go into a common local MLS, customized to their market, because that is what is best designed to present properties. It is the only venue that gives the sellers the maximum exposure through the brokerage cooperative process, including sharing of their listings on hundreds and thousands of other participating broker and agent websites via the IDX and RETS processes. No one independent website, no matter how technically good, would accomplish that.

[999]

I know what you're talking about James, and I think the idea definitely has merit. I've thought about this quite a bit.

The MLS/Realtor association business model is ridiculously outdated and wasteful and IMO is completely unequipped to deal with an efficient competitor. In my county the Realtor Assns. and MLS take in roughly $1.4 million per year, and the majority of "customers" get back nothing more than a working database.

Feel free to email me if you like jeff at beachtownedotcom

Yes, but it's an antiquated system that's proprietary, feels limited and costs money. Why isn't there an MLS competitor that's cheaper or free, and that does the complete job? There are so many databases in different regions and with separate staffing, etc. The purpose of the MLS, unless I am mistaken, is to facilitate exchange of useful information about real estate. I feel it could be done much better and at a fraction of the cost. Since my background isn't primarily real estate, I'm asking brokers if they would consider participating in something else if it existed, why or why not, or if they're 100% satisfied with MLS.

[eduardb]

Recently we've been discussing database question a lot in our company. We also would like to join to some database standart or creat our own. At the moment we have created a standart for our portal, and if some company or an agent want to join to our database, we developed a XML standart. We help them to make a convertor and then we make daily synchronisation with our databases. I dont know if we chose a right way. You can check, how we've done it http://www.mugawa.com/importxml

Several companies joined our solution. It's free. But still I'm not pretty sure if it works as we hope.

[wpreality]

I am interested in such a standard, although the xml format that your company has designed in a little wasteful in size and can be much more optimized.

If there is anyone interested in building a custom MLS solution, I would be happy to help design a Open Source XML format and connectivity to the various MLS datasources.

Regards,
Sean