Working with Realestate MLS

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cesarcesar
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Working with Realestate MLS

Post by cesarcesar »

I have a project coming up that requires me to sync up with the MLS (multiple listing service) that realtor's use. I'm looking for a PHP class that does all the syncing for me all ready. I have done Google searches for various phrases, but all that comes up is canned software packs which im not interested in. Thanks for the suggestions.
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Peter Anselmo
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Re: Working with Realestate MLS

Post by Peter Anselmo »

I am also very interested if anyone knows anything about this. I've worked with several real-estate clients, and we ended up just using frames or external links as a work-around to access MLS.
guygk
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Re: Working with Realestate MLS

Post by guygk »

Wrong topic.
alex.barylski
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Re: Working with Realestate MLS

Post by alex.barylski »

I'm not sure I know what 'sync-ing' is in this context?

You mean showing the realtor's listings from MLS database on their own web site? If there isn't an API that allows you to query their listings, it's probably not allowed, that is checking their profile page using PHP and parsing their listings manually is likely a no-no.

It would be easier (although still possibly no-no) to manage the listings from their web site and submit new listings to the MLS automagically...but like I said...this might be a no-no as well.
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volomike
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Re: Working with Realestate MLS

Post by volomike »

I too want to integrate with the MLS. For those of you outside the USA, the MLS stands for Multiple Listing Service. Basically almost all homes sold in the USA are stored in this central database. If anyone has done this or found an article or script on it, I'm interested. Even if there's a cost, I would be interested to hear more.

A Google search for me really hasn't turned up much.

All I'm trying to do is have the client type in an MLS code and it automatically comes back with the latest MLS information for that listing. They can then add extra notes about the listing and attach images. From there, a cron job will run twice daily to update MLS info on existing listings in the system I build, as well as mark listings as sold if the MLS says the listings are sold.

I heard that this also goes by the name of IDX (Internet Data eXchange).
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Re: Working with Realestate MLS

Post by josh »

The practice of scraping or indexing by search engines for
the purpose of displaying or indexing the data for consumer property search, and
which ultimately directs the consumer back to its source, is benign, and is in
sync with the REALTOR`S intention when displaying listings on the Internet.
http://www.reuters.com/article/pressRel ... BW20090610
http://www.realtown.com/mattcohen/blog/ ... ch-engines

Basically you can do the same stuff google does, and they don't seem to care. [REDACTED]
Last edited by Benjamin on Wed Dec 30, 2009 11:38 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Reason: Post Modified
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volomike
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Re: Working with Realestate MLS

Post by volomike »

Uh, no. Not exactly. That's not consistent enough. Here's what I found out.

Here's some info on the IDX:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet_Data_Exchange

Which then led me to read this link:

http://wordpress.org/support/topic/252891

...and then the guys there highly recommended IDXBroker.com for the API, which is priced here:

http://www.idxbroker.com/idx_prices.php

$199 USD account setup
$39/mo USD API access

And that's not all. First I learned that the MLS is really a set of separate databases across the USA. IDX is the key into them, but some have what are called pass-through fees. Think of them as tiny troll fees. However, I clicked around on the IDXBroker.com's coverage area here...

http://www.idxbroker.com/idx_mls_coverage.php

...and didn't find any pass-through fees on the dozens I clicked on. There might be some here or there, but I don't know which.

Meanwhile, the standard by which they are composed is not consistent, as is explained here:

http://stackoverflow.com/questions/1664 ... -my-websit

So, one has to use an IDX Brokerage like idxbroker.com to get at this data in a consistent way.

Now, what I'm trying to see is if idxbroker.com will give us this access via web service to individual pieces, or whether we have to drop in snippets of Javascript or XHTML to pull from widgets off their site. So far all I see are widgets:

http://www.idxbroker.com/idx_broker.php

I'm going to call them on Thursday afternoon to find out more.

Meanwhile, the guy who made AgentPress.com said he had MLS integration in his product. And I'm like wondering how so affordably?
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Re: Working with Realestate MLS

Post by josh »

volomike wrote: Meanwhile, the guy who made AgentPress.com said he had MLS integration in his product. And I'm like wondering how so affordably?
I don't see where they offer that, but I found out that sometimes companies become "strategic partners". This one company has a 6 million record database and integrates with my competitor's product. I asked what it would take to bring integration to my product as well and they said "you will have to use our iframe because xyz corp is the only one we let use our data". Which kind of just encourages people to scrape them.

On the other hand if someone developed an open standard for this kind of stuff, I'm sure it could become ubiquitous with time. Like if someone did what that agentpress is doing, but made all the listings get aggregated into a central site, and made an open API so people built up backlinks to it.

I was thinking about doing an open source ecommerce system since I had so many problems with Magento. A real estate listing system like this sounds like it would be more interesting and possibly more profitable ( as the market will eventually turnaround despite what some analysts say)
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volomike
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Re: Working with Realestate MLS

Post by volomike »

I just found a peer web developer in Myrtle Beach (near where I live) who has managed to grow his business on realtor websites to the point now where he's moved beyond freelancing and has a small staff, an office, and is likely bringing in a near six-figure income for himself every year, perhaps more. So, yeah, there's good money there I guess.

I was mistaken on AgentPress. The main dev wrote me and said that they are currently working on an IDX plugin but don't have it built yet.

As for costs, if I include IDX support, the cheapest I've found is $199 to get started and then $39/mo ($468/yr). However, some MLS gateways charge tiny fees, but you can disclude them from your searches to avoid those fees. That's from idxbroker.com. Anyway, these costs are pass-through -- the client pays these costs, not me.

I've got a call out to idxbroker.com tomorrow. They gave me a long email with lots of web samples. I think what they give you at idxbroker.com is a bunch of widgets. These widgets are XHTML with everything able to be styled via CSS or jQuery. They include an AJAX library so that the widgets do things back at idxbroker.com.

The question I have, though, is what does idxbroker.com do that I can't do? And if they make it easy for me and cost effective to my client, then I guess they're worth it.
alex.barylski
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Re: Working with Realestate MLS

Post by alex.barylski »

The question I have, though, is what does idxbroker.com do that I can't do? And if they make it easy for me and cost effective to my client, then I guess they're worth it.
I would have guessed that maybe they offered an MLS service and offered an API for developers to interact with, but it doesn't look that way at all. More like a Control Panel for virtual hosting, in that they provide the web based software and you simply re-brand it. Yuck.

I have oftent thought about building a CMS for realtors, where they can manage their ow listings using my software, but it updated their MLS details using an API. Alternatively, if they offered a read only API, at least then I could show the MLS listings on the realtor site, but neither option seem to be available.

MLS.ca is what I would look at because I am in Canada, I suppose their infranstructure is probably over 10 years old and would be a wicked redesign to facilitate web services, plus they are probably concerned about competition or some stupid thing.

There is a company in Saskatchewan (of all places) that had a brilliant idea which I stumbled upon probably about 8-10 years ago:

http://homes.point2.com/

They basically gave CMS to realtors and built up a massive MLS like database of their own, really a well done system, at least at superficial value.

Cheers,
Alex
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volomike
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Re: Working with Realestate MLS

Post by volomike »

You know, that point2homes URL you gave me had some interesting things in it. First, the website was silly fast for what it offered, which was remarkable. I wonder how they did that. Second, although the design was kind of stale and 1990s, it delivered nice functionality. I also noticed it animated a slideshow of rooms inside the home, which was nice. So, thanks for the URL. I may consider it on this realtor project as far as how to implement something.
alex.barylski
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Re: Working with Realestate MLS

Post by alex.barylski »

Best peice of real estate software I've ever seen.

When you compare it to say OpenRealty:

http://www.open-realty.org/

Or something like:

http://www.interactivetools.com/appstor ... ealty-1008

Or even extensions for Joomla:

http://extensions.joomla.org/index.php? ... &Itemid=35

Point2 really kicks the pants off most competitors, plus they have a huge advantage in having built a massive MLS like database for cross-promotion, etc. Really neat business idea, I just wish I had the contacts back in the day I would have built something similar and ran with it then.

Cheers,
Alex
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volomike
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Re: Working with Realestate MLS

Post by volomike »

I found out last night that very few organizations can provide MLS search for the entire USA, rather than just a local area. To do so would require joining the MLSes of 800 MLS boards, and paying the fees for this. Only groups like realtor.com get that kind of leeway or can afford those fees.

Another thing I found was that most MLS boards scrutinize meticulously their data connection points with IDX brokerages, which are third parties that expose an API for developers like you and me. They set ground rules. For instance, one IDX brokerage that I called said that they could only expose data through widgets, but not the data directly. So, for instance, no authorization for SOAP API access (aka WDSL access) to their data with some MLS groups.

In general what I'm finding is that if you want to bring up a real estate website with MLS integration, you're really only going to get local MLS coverage, and only if the realtor has joined that particular MLS and kept its fees up to date. I'm also finding that IDX integration has fees through an IDX brokerage (at least in the USA) that can range from $39/mo to $100/mo, perhaps more depending on who you use. And I'm also finding that you're really going to have to just combine canned widgets from these brokerages rather than get direct access via SOAP. In other words, if you're building a spec for a new project, you really need to hinge that spec on what features you can extract from these widgets. At best, you might be able to style those widgets with CSS and jQuery, or style the page template.
spectre013
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Re: Working with Realestate MLS

Post by spectre013 »

I have been working with our local MLS (through a local real estate company.) the way it works in our area our MLS provider give us access to some files and the latest photos every morning at about 5 am.

Initially this was only accessible through their website, later got the agency to spring for FTP access. Basically at that point I wrote a series of classes to handle getting the files from the server unzipping them and updating my database tables.

As far as I know there are very few companies have access to an area's mls data with out access through an agency in that area. Along with that each realtor's association can make rules about how you can use the data.

I know this is about a month old but I hope it helps.
tommytx
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Re: Working with Realestate MLS

Post by tommytx »

This has got to be the most mis-information I have ever seen in one place in all my life..
Let me shed a little lite on the subject as I am daily involved in the IDX business.... and idxbroker.com is definitely a good provider... but the do the attached or framed IDX.. not the full blown... however they are still good....

First no one can get the IDX access unless you are a licensed broker and then you pay from 0 to 1,000 bucks set up fee and then from 0 to $250.00 per month for access.. then they give you a ton of rules as to what you can and cannot do with the data. They inspect the site before launch and periodically monitor as you go... worse is that other agents will report you if they see you violatiing a rule...
Next after you pay all this <span style='color:blue' title='I&#39;m naughty, are you naughty?'>smurf</span>... you are just begining... you must contract with an idx provider to attach the raw data to your web site... and it can only appear on your registered site with that mls... you must pay each MLS you want on your site and you must also be a member of that MLS and pay all thier dues.... its an expensive project... one or two violations and you are shut down....

Idxbroker.com is just one of many IDX providers that once your mls approves you, both you and idxbroker.com have to sign a bunch of papers swearing like (mother may I) and promise your first born not to violate any of the 200 pages of rules...

And it goes on and on....
Hope this clears up some of the questions... call idxbroker.com yourself, they cannot deal with you unless your are a licensed broker... and in most cases they cannot deal with the agent.. only the broker... a few MLS will let an agent sign up but not many...

So for example in Virginia here is how it goes..
1. Send paper work to MLS with proof of Licensed broker for that area..
2. Pay $1,000 set up fee...
3. Pay first 3 $250.00 per month upfront monthly subscription fee.
4. Contact an idx provider like idxbroker.com or any of a thousand other idx providers...
5. pay the current idxbroker setup fee of $99.00
5. pay idxbroker $39.00 per month for their service.

The mls provides the mls data to the idx provider twice a day and the idx provider formats it and makes it available to your site... and that is how it goes...
Each and every MLS site all over the nation is different... rules... but similar to this...
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