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Multiple listing service
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==North America== In North America, the MLS systems are governed by private entities, and the rules are set by those entities with no state or federal oversight, beyond any individual state rules regarding real estate. MLS systems set their own rules for membership, access, and sharing of information. An MLS may be owned and operated by a real estate company, a county or regional real estate board of realtors or association of realtors, or by a trade association. Membership in the MLS is not required for the practice of real estate brokerage.{{Citation needed|date=September 2009}} The most current list of North American MLSs shows over 500 organizations in Canada and the United States.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Certification|url=https://www.reso.org/certification/|access-date=2020-10-10|website=RESO - Real Estate Standards Organization|language=en-US}}</ref> ===Canada=== In Canada, the national MLS is a cooperative system for the members of the [[Canadian Real Estate Association]] (CREA), working through Canada's 101 real estate boards and 13 provincial/territorial associations. Both the terms Realtor and MLS are registered trademarks for both the members and data of the CREA. The Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver claims to have pioneered the first MLS in Canada.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.realtylink.org/rebgv/rebgv_about.cfm|title=History of the Vancouver Real Estate Board|access-date=2007-04-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070415123452/http://www.realtylink.org/rebgv/rebgv_about.cfm|archive-date=2007-04-15|url-status=dead}}</ref> A publicly accessible website allows consumers to search an aggregated subset of each participating board's MLS database of active listings, providing limited details and directing consumers to contact a [[Real estate broker/agent|real estate agent]] for more information. While most real estate boards participate in the national MLS, known as the Data Distribution System, others provide listings to a Quebec-based service known as Centris. Still others, such as the Toronto Regional Real Estate Board (TRREB), operate their own MLS. In 2007, the real estate brokerage Realtysellers shut down after alleging that CREA and TRREB had modified their rules to hinder [[flat-fee MLS]] services on behalf of those selling houses themselves. In 2010, CREA settled with the [[Competition Bureau]], and agreed to allow flat-fee listings. However, some real estate boards continued to bar the practice, citing interpretations of provincial laws requiring those trading in real estate to be licensed. Flat-free providers disputed the argument, claiming that their services were no different than posting listings on [[classifieds]], and that they were not necessarily trading.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/competition-bureau-asked-to-settle-new-fight-over-mls-listings/article598326/|title=Competition Bureau asked to settle new fight over MLS listings|work=The Globe and Mail|access-date=2017-12-01}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/realtysellers-gets-green-light-for-lawsuit/article1359374/|title=Realtysellers gets green light for lawsuit|work=The Globe and Mail|access-date=2017-12-01}}</ref> In 2015, the Competition Bureau began a federal case against the TRREB "in hopes of breaking the real estate industry's stranglehold on the Multiple Listings Service."<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/real-estate/the-market/case-against-toronto-real-estate-board-grinds-to-halt/article26454707/|title=Case against Toronto Real Estate Board grinds to halt|last=McMahon|first=Tamsin|date=2015-09-21|access-date=2017-12-01|work=The Globe and Mail|language=en-ca}}</ref> === Mexico === In Mexico, MLS systems have been slow to catch on, although there have been numerous attempts to create a national network. The first MLS system originated in Puerto Vallarta as [http://www.mlsvallarta.com www.MLSVallarta.com] in 1988 and existed for a short period in the Los Cabos region as MLSCabo.com in the early 90s. They originated in these two markets as the majority of buyers are American or Canadian and familiar with the benefits of a MLS real estate system in their own home markets. MLS systems have not had as much success in other parts of Mexico. The Cabo system went through a few structural changes before contracting with FLEX MLS software in 2010. Today, it is represents over 90 brokers in the State of Baja California Sur, and is now called MLS BCS ([http://www.mlsinbajasur.com www.mlsinbajasur.com]), which operates as a corporation in which each subscriber Broker is permitted to own one voting share. Brokers and agents subscribe through MLS BCS upon meeting requirements and committing to following a strict set of Operating Policies and Procedures, requiring each listing to be Exclusive and the broker to have a complete property records file in his office on each listing. The MLS BCS has been invited to participate on the oversight council of the new Real Estate Agent License Registry, helping to write the Code of Ethics for the 2017 State License law. MLS BCS is generally recognized to be the model for MLS operation in the country. In Puerto Vallarta and Riviera Nayarit, MLSVallarta.com still services the region as the oldest and longest running MLS system in Mexico. MLSVallarta is a private, independent MLS system, with membership for both qualifying brokers and developers. The Puerto Vallarta and Riviera Nayarit real estate associations formed their own MLS system in 2012, known as [http://www.vallartanayaritmls.com www.VallartaNayaritMLS.com], adopting the same FLEX system used in the Los Cabos region. Rules of membership exist for both system in Vallarta systems and only legal existing real estate businesses can apply for membership. Both are well used by local brokers, developers and the buying/selling public. ===United States=== As of 2020, there are 580 MLSs in the US<ref>{{Cite web|title=RESO MLS Certification List|url=https://www.reso.org/certification/|access-date=2020-10-09|website=RESO - Real Estate Standards Organization|language=en-US}}</ref> with that number decreasing due to consolidation trends. The largest MLS in the United States is currently California-Regional Multiple Listing Service (CRMLS), representing 110,000 real estate professionals. Other notable MLSs include Bright MLS with over 109,000, Stellar MLS with over 75,000 Subscribers, First MLS in Atlanta with over 50,000 Subscribers, MetroList located in Northern California has over 22,500 Subscribers,<ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=October 7, 2022|title= MetroList About Us|url=https://www.metrolist.com/about-us}}</ref> Midwest Real Estate Data (MRED) at 40,000 members serving Chicago and northern Illinois,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mredllc.com/about/ |title=MRED About Us |access-date=2017-03-20}}</ref> MLS Property Information Network ([http://www.mlspin.com MLS PIN]) at 37,000 subscribers serving Massachusetts and areas of New England and New York,<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://mlspin.com/about_mls_pin.aspx|title=Welcome to MLS PIN - Connecting Real Estate Professionals|newspaper=MLS Property Information Network, Inc. |access-date=2018-10-25}}</ref> Arizona Regional Multiple Listing Service (ARMLS)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.armls.com/about-armls/mission-and-history |title=ARMLS Mission & History |access-date=2017-03-20}}</ref> in Arizona serving 42,000 members in the Phoenix metropolitan area, and [https://smartmls.com/ SmartMLS] in Connecticut serving over 17,000 members.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://smartmls.com/|title=Home β SmartMLS|website=SmartMLS|language=en-US|access-date=2018-03-14}}</ref> ====New York City==== Although the other boroughs and Long Island have several different MLS{{Citation needed|date=July 2014}}, MLS has never taken hold in Manhattan. A small group of brokers formed the Manhattan Association of Realtors and operate MLSManhattan.com. MLSManhattan has a small fraction of the total active inventory in Manhattan. The Bronx Manhattan North MLS also offers coverage in Northern Manhattan. It too has failed to acquire widespread adoption by brokers. The prevalent database is operated by the [[Real Estate Board of New York]] (REBNY), a non-Realtor entity that seceded from the National Association of Realtors in 1994.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thefreelibrary.com/REBNY+pulls+out+of+NAR.+(Real+Estate+Board+of+New+York;+National...-a015774444 |title=REBNY pulls out of NAR |publisher=Thefreelibrary.com |access-date=2012-02-01}}</ref> REBNY operates a database called RLS which stands for REBNY Listing Service. A predecessor of RLS was marketed as R.O.L.E.X (REBNY Online Listing Exchange), before Rolex Watches claimed trademark infringement. Like MLS, RLS has under contract, sold and days on market data, and houses rental listings as well. There is a database, which in 2011, was slated to be converted to the more familiar RETS standard in January 2012. The RLS gateway is populated by several private databases that include RealtyMX (RMX), Online Residential (OLR) and Realplus, another proprietary database available to Manhattan Brokers. These databases exchange data continually effectively creating several separate systems with essentially similar data. Another vendor, Klickads, Inc D/B/A Brokers NYC, owned by Lala Wang sued in 2007 to be included in the list of firms permitted to participate in the Gateway. REBNY also grandfathered the major brokerages including Douglas Elliman, Corcoran, Stribling, Bellmarc as participants to the Gateway. Seriously committed Manhattan brokerages are members of REBNY, and thus one may find the vast majority of updated and valid listings in Manhattan are represented by RLS. The REBNY RLS requires all listings to be entered and disseminated within 24 hours (Until 2007 72 Hours to accommodate agencies without weekend data entry).<ref>{{cite web |url=https://members.rebny.com/jsp/member/docs/manual/Residential_Resolution.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=2009-06-07 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110715162844/https://members.rebny.com/jsp/member/docs/manual/Residential_Resolution.pdf |archive-date=2011-07-15 }}</ref> ====Policies on sharing MLS data in the US==== The National Association of Realtors (NAR) has set policies that permit brokers to show limited MLS information on their websites under a system known as ''IDX'' or ''[[Internet Data Exchange]]''. NAR has an ownership interest in [[Move (company)|Move Inc.]], the company which operates a website that has been given exclusive rights to display significant MLS information. Using IDX search tools available on most real estate brokers' websites (as well as on many individual agents' sites), potential buyers may view properties available on the market, using search features such as location, type of property (single family, lease, vacant land, duplex), property features (number of bedrooms and bathrooms), and price ranges. In some instances photos can be viewed. Many allow for saving search criteria and for daily email updates of newly-available properties. However, if a potential buyer finds a property, he/she will still need to contact the listing agent (or their own agent) to view the house and make an offer. The U.S. Department of Justice filed an antitrust lawsuit in September 2005 against the National Association of Realtors over NAR's policy which allowed brokers to restrict access to their MLS information from appearing on the websites of certain brokers which operate solely on the web.<ref>[http://www.usdoj.gov/atr/cases/nar.htm U.S. v. National Association of Realtors]</ref> This policy applied to commercial entities which are also licensed brokerages, such as HomeGain, which solicit clients by internet advertising and then provide referrals to local agents in return for a fee of 25% to 35% of the commission. The DOJ's antitrust claims also include NAR rules that exclude certain kinds of brokers from membership in MLSs. NAR has revised its policies on allowing access on web sites operated by member brokers and others to what might be considered as proprietary data.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.realtor.org/law_and_policy/doj/nar_doj |title= NAR-DOJ: Final Settlement Details |work= National Association of REALTORS |date= 22 May 2009 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110707184137/http://www.realtor.org/law_and_policy/doj/nar_doj |archive-date= 7 July 2011 }}</ref> The case was settled in May 2008, with NAR agreeing that Internet brokerages would be given access to all the same listings that traditional brokerages are.<ref>{{cite news |first= Eric |last= Lichtblau |url= https://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/28/business/28realty.html?em&ex=1212120000&en=d24b1bd8549a7dd4&ei=5087%0A |title= Realtors Agree to Stop Blocking Web Listings |work= The New York Times |date= 28 May 2008 }}</ref>
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