How to Get MLS Access to Real Estate Listings
Whether you’re a homebuyer, a seller, or an investor, access to the most comprehensive and up-to-date property listings can make all the difference in your real estate deal. This is where the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) comes in — a goldmine of property information. But how do you get MLS access? Are you allowed to view all the MLS data without a Realtor?
In this post, we’ll guide you through these and other MLS questions, including what it is, how to gain access (with or without a Realtor), and share expert buyer and seller insights from a top-rated real estate agent.
What is the MLS?
The multiple listing service (MLS) is the backbone of the real estate market. It’s a comprehensive database of property listings, providing detailed information on homes for sale. Compiled and maintained by real estate professionals, the MLS is more than just a list of homes; it includes critical details like price, property features, photos, and the home’s history.
This centralized system enables Realtors to share information about properties with each other, ensuring that buyers and sellers have access to a wide range of options and vital market data. According to the National Association of Realtors, nearly 90% of homes sold in the U.S. are sold on an MLS.
Christine Cahoon, a top Virginia real estate agent with nearly 20 years of experience, explains that most — but not all — MLS networks are owned by the local Realtor association board that created them.
“Some of them, in different areas, are partnered with multiple associations to form a [regional] MLS,” she says. “Ours is a broker-owned MLS called Hampton Roads.” The name refers to what’s known locally as the “Hampton Roads region,” where the MLS is made up of more than 670 broker firms and 10,000 active members. “So each MLS is different.”
How many MLS systems are there?
You might be surprised to learn that there isn’t just one MLS. In fact, there are over 800 MLS systems across the United States. Each one operates locally, reflecting the unique aspects and needs of its market area. These regional systems are interconnected, allowing real estate professionals to access a vast network of information and listings.
