If you’ve had any dealings with real estate, whether buying or selling a home, you have probably come across the MLS or Multiple Listing Service. It is an online database of all the homes for sale in your area and it can be a realtor’s most valuable tool.
Today the MLS is a high tech resource but surprisingly the MLS actually started in 1907. Real estate agents would get together regularly to discuss the properties they had for sale. They would discuss which clients would be perfect for which house and network to help connect buyers and sellers.
The first computerized MLS was launched in 1975.
The MLS is not a single database. It’s actually a collection of about 800 local databases that (almost) cover the entire country. Each database is extremely territorial and agents need to pay dues to access their regional listings. Depending on geography some agents subscribe to more than one. [Click here to see why you need a native Angeleno as your realtor]
The MLS and you
If you are selling your home you cannot post it directly to the MLS, access is limited to licensed realtors who pay a fee. And if you are buying or selling a home that’s exactly the way you want it to be. The MLS has been a trusted resource for decades because the people who can post to the service have to conform to strict ethical and professional guidelines. That way the information the MLS presents can be trusted. I’m sure no-one wants to see the MLS turn into another Craig’s List!
If a realtor has a client selling a home they take all the pertinent information like square footage, asking price and number of rooms and create a listing that contains these details. Hopefully they also throw in some some striking photographs of the property for sale.
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When an agent logs into the MLS all this posted information is available to them as well as other items like disclosures and HOA regulations that can be uploaded to the listing page.
Buyer beware
These days buyers are increasingly using sites like Zillow, Trulia and Homes.com to research properties. It is very common for clients to arrive already knowing about the area and the particular houses they are interested in. However it’s important to realize that these sites do not list complete MLS data.
Full MLS information also often includes showing instructions, scheduling and pertinent disclosures.
Customers should also be aware that Unlike Realtor.com and Redfin.com—which reference only listings posted by real estate agents—sites like Zillow, Trulia and Homes.com are accessible to the public. Anyone can list any property, and there are no guarantees of the accuracy of the information.
I have heard of clients traveling to see a house that they researched on-line to discover that the description and photographs were misleading. The other concern I pass on to my clients is that an online database can not give you any “feel” for the neighborhood, the neighbors or things like noise issues, proximity to stores and pollution.
These days do I really need a Realtor?
As you can see the MLS is a very useful tool that makes buying and selling a home much more efficient.
See it for yourself
I am more than happy to offer you access to the MLS. Click below, start your search by zip code, specific area or neighborhood, filter by price and see all the homes listed in that area at any given time.
Or, if you already have a neighborhood in mind just click here
The links below will take you directly to the listing for all the homes in each neighborhood.
