I've noticed a number of non local "Info" sites in my market popping up on the serps with full blown MLS searches and I'm wondering how they get access to our data when they are not Realtors?

Do our MLS companies that are supposed to be watching out for us sell this data to any tom dick and harry who is willing to pay for a feed?

There are also huge national companies flaunting MLS data from every state in the union and again I'm wondering how do they obtain access to all of it. It seems like they are selling us Realtors short by providing the data to non Realtors.

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Coastal Delaware Real Estate Sales
REHOBOTH BEACH CONDOS | REHOBOTH BEACH REAL ESTATE | REHOBOTH BEACH MOBILE HOMES
* Results not typical. Individual results may vary.

I don't know for sure, but maybe they are "partnering" with local agents to get the feed. Similar to what roost.com is doing??

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Mike Taylor
Indianapolis Real Estate | Carmel Real Estate |My REW Blog

I know that homes and cyber homes; both in the past have requested from our MLS Committee to be allowed to display our data. (I don't know whether or not an approval was ever made thought.)

In fact, I think that one of them was given a cease and desist order, because they were displaying data without permission. So, apparantly, there is a means for outsiders to obtain the feed. I just don't know what it is.

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Randy Watson Texas Real Estate Agent
Mission Realty-San Antonio Real Estate
San Antonio Real Estate

There are MLS/Brokers/Agents across the country that are 'syndicating' their listings to these aggregators. Granted, each one of these are restricted in what they can and can not send.

There is also a big push by Trulia, Zillow and Yahoo to create standardized
feeds, as discussed a couple weeks ago:

http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/01/09...oo-and-trulia/


Which has spurred the creation of this NAR/RETS program:
http://rets.org/cms/workgroup/syndication

Michael, have you read this thread yet? http://www.realestatewebmasters.com/...ad.php?t=21577

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Want to save up to 50% off Real estate webmasters product websites & common upgrades? Check out my latest blog post regarding our end of the year sale.

yup, I found it after I post this thread....

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Coastal Delaware Real Estate Sales
REHOBOTH BEACH CONDOS | REHOBOTH BEACH REAL ESTATE | REHOBOTH BEACH MOBILE HOMES
* Results not typical. Individual results may vary.