MLS question

Ed,
Well, that site is useful if you are looking for a home, but I just
want all the data for all the houses for sale in my county. I want to
be able to download a delimited text file or a database file that I can
import into my database. Accessing it from the site you showed me, I
would have to do a query every day and somehow capture the data from
the screen into a file. Besides not very efficient, that goes against
the websites "Terms of Use" policy (At least the site I usually go to,
Realtor.com). They called that screen scraping and had several other
terms for using their data. I am not sure if even being a
member/realtor allows you to use the MLS data in commercial
applications.

Thanks, Roger

Ed Pulliam wrote:
 > On March 25 2005, RogBaker.DeleteThis@gmail.com wrote:
  > > How does one get access to MLS data? I am not a realtor, but I am a
  > > sofware developer who is creating a unique web application and I
want
  > > to be able to load basic info into a database about houses for sale
in
  > > one particular county: address, price, square footage.
  > >
  > > Do I pay a subscription for this, or do I have to be a Realtor, or
  > > what?> ?
 >
 > I am a software developer (vice president of the Association of
 > Shareware Professionals), a licensed commercial real estate broker,
and
 > a Realtor. I am not a member of my local MLS, as I have opted out of
 > that additional membership.
 >
 > I can access most of the MLS information online by going to my local
or
 > Regional MLS web site and doing a search for what I am looking for.
 >
<font color=purple> > In my area, I can go to <a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://wisconsinhomes.com</font" target="_blank">http://wisconsinhomes.com</font</a>>
 >
 > Take a look at this site, and decide if this type of information can
be
 > of use to you.
 >
 > When I WAS an MLS member, I had access to additional information,
such
 > as showing instructions and the expiration date of the listing, that
are
 > not available on the public web sites.
 >
 > Hope this is helpful.
 >
 >
 >
 > --
 > - Ed Pulliam pulliam.DeleteThis@ouisoft.com<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: MLS question 

Real estate was one of the first application for the web. My son made a
web site way back and since then, realtors have been very afraid of
losing thier grip on the marketplace for their niche. Even million
dollar homes are shown w/ details of the whole range of info.
Listings' details on the web are a dime a dozen, just have to know
where to look.
Being a realtor would help but not essential. Web cams are common. Many
signs have a radio frequency that you can dial into to hear details on
a particular address.
 >> Stay informed about: MLS question 

RogBaker.RemoveThis@gmail.com wrote:

 > Ed,
 > Well, that site is useful if you are looking for a home, but I just
 > want all the data for all the houses for sale in my county. I want to
 > be able to download a delimited text file or a database file that I can
 > import into my database. Accessing it from the site you showed me, I
 > would have to do a query every day and somehow capture the data from
 > the screen into a file. Besides not very efficient, that goes against
 > the websites "Terms of Use" policy (At least the site I usually go to,
 > Realtor.com). They called that screen scraping and had several other
 > terms for using their data. I am not sure if even being a
 > member/realtor allows you to use the MLS data in commercial
 > applications.
 >
 > Thanks, Roger

You're living in fantasy land. Have you ever made a commercial decision?

Ask the data providers and get a rude shock at how much money they want for
it.

Screen scraping copyright data will get you a big lawsuit.

gtoomey<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: MLS question 

On March 26 2005, RogBaker RemoveThis @gmail.com wrote:
 > I am not sure if even being a
 > member/realtor allows you to use the MLS data in commercial
 > applications.

OK, I understand what you want to do now.

All I can offer is that this used to be possible, when MLS systems were
DOS based. Most are now web based. It might still be possible, but you
would have to be an MLS member to access the feature, if available in
your area.

MLS rules vary from place to place, but generally you need not be a
Realtor to belong to the MLS. Appraisers and government tax assessors
quite often have access.

--
- Ed Pulliam pulliam RemoveThis @ouisoft.com<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: MLS question 

Fantasy Land, I think not? I am saying if Realtors can include the data
on their own sites, what must I do do include it on mine? Become a
Realtor, pay a subscription service? That's all I'm questioning, I
don't expect anything for free Gloomey!

Gregory Toomey wrote:

 > You're living in fantasy land. Have you ever made a commercial
decision?
 >
 > Ask the data providers and get a rude shock at how much money they
want for
 > it.
 >
 > Screen scraping copyright data will get you a big lawsuit.
 >
 > gtoomey<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: MLS question 

I, too, has been researching ways to do the same thing for the last
couple of days (and I came across your post).

Bottom line (at least in the MRIS), you have to have a broker give you
authorization. For example, if you are building a site for a real
estate agent John Smith, then Smith's broker (ABC broker) need to
authorize it. The problem with that is most brokers already have some
type of search already set up. Plus there is a cost to getting the
data (it is not free). This is what I was able to figure out so far.
Please let me know if you were able to get better or more info.

Thanks!
 >> Stay informed about: MLS question