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How do you mean I can’t search the MLS?
Over eighty percent of all home buyers start their search on the Internet.
But they can’t search the MLS.
What those internet-browsing home buyers can NOT do is “Search the MLS”. There are thousands of real estate websites that tell you to “Search the MLS” but, unless you are a member of a Multiple Listing Service, you simply can’t. Even those real estate companies with MLS in their name can’t give the consumer access to the members-only MLS sites. This is the website of the Northwest Multiple Listing Service — NWMLS. Members Only.
So, what exactly are you looking at when you search for homes on line? What you CAN find on millions of real estate sites is the “consumer version” of MLS listings. The content is made available via one of the local MLS via something called IDX — Internet Data Exchange. The consumer or public content of the NWMLS is available at all Seattle area real estate companies. Even the NWMLS has its own public website where the public can search for real estate.
Privacy Protection, Timeliness, Detail
So, what’s the difference between the content of the members-only MLS sites and the public version of these sites? Three main differences: protection of privacy, timeliness and detail. Confidentiality: name and contact information of seller are not revealed. Timeliness: homes listed as for sale have been sold. Detail: even the best public search sites can’t match the MLS search criteria.
So, why do so many public real estate websites say: “Search the MLS”? Some don’t know any better. Or they do so because they want you to think you can. They pretend to give you a competitive edge. They are misleading you. It’s called lying.
Tags: internet home search, MLS, Multiple Listing Service, NWMLS, search the MLS
The whole thing is silly and will have almost zero impact on peoples perception of what the MLS is. The genie is out of the bottle and unless NAR ponies up for a major advertising/pr campaign to change peoples perceptions no on is going to know any difference.