IDX/MLS Solution
An
Internet Data Exchange (IDX) is a real estate property search site
which allows the public to conduct searches of approved Multiple Listing
Service properties in a certain area.
Site users generally gain
the benefit of anonymous property searching and review. IDX sites
usually provide less detailed information than the full Realtor Multiple
Listing Service, limiting the data to that which is deemed publicly
accessible. The benefit to realtors is that users of their IDX web site
can search freely, establish some confidence, and qualify themselves
before contacting the realtor.
Certain rules apply to the real
estate companies' ability to display each detail about a property. These
"display rules" are set by the Multiple Listing Service organization,
which generally forms its policy around the recommendations of the
National Association of Realtors.
IDX policy is nearing its
replacement by a new Internet Listing Display policy being formed by the
National Association of Realtors.
A common and standard data exchange protocol for IDX information is the Real Estate Transaction Specification or RETS.
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