Find a Local MLS for Residential and Commercial Real Estate in Your Area

According to the National Association of Realtors (NAR), over 800 multiple listing services are located throughout the USA. True to the original intent back in the 1800s, the MLS is meant to serve local real estate professionals with a local multiple listing service.

The number of multiple listing services varies by state. Missouri, for example, has approximately 12 MLS organizations. California has close to 50, while Rhode Island has one.

Each MLS maintains a regional database of all submitted real estate listings. Funding for the MLS is the responsibility of the real estate professionals who are members of the MLS. They create, maintain, and pay for these private databases to help their clients buy and sell properties. Since all of the real estate listed on the MLS is accessible to any participating realtor, the MLS allows a buyer to work with the agent of their choice. There is no need to search for a property first, and then try to contact the agent who listed it.

Realtor members post the information about a listing on the MLS database. Some information can be accessed by the public, such as pricing, location, and marketing materials (with both pictures and print). Other information, such as contact information and times when a house is vacant, is only available through private access.

When a property is sold by an agent other than the listing agent, the listing agent shares a portion of the sales commission with the selling agent.

It has been said that the MLS is a powerful tool used to promote competition. An independent realtor has the same access to an MLS listing as does a realtor who is a part of a nationwide brokerage house. Consequently, the size of the real estate office is of no consequence to the buyer, since the buyer has access to the entire list through any member real estate professional.

The MLS is also an essential resource for real estate appraisers—when checking on comparable properties for an appraisal.

As a real estate agent, typically, you must have a membership in your local real estate association before you can join an MLS. The cost of membership in the National Association of Realtors varies by location—and can be as much as $1,000 annually.

Access to the MLS generally costs between $20 and $50 per month—depending on the MLS. If you want to integrate MLS listings on your website and make those listings available publically, an IDX (Internet Data Exchange) is required. The fees for an IDX generally cost from $10 to $70 per month.

Most MLS also offer RETS (Real Estate Transaction Standard), which is a robust data connection that is unique to each agent website. This type of connection typically adds an additional charge to the MLS fee.

If you have a rental property that you would like to have listed on the MLS, it is not possible as a ‘for rent by owner’ listing. You must be represented in some capacity by a participating real estate broker who can list your rental with their MLS membership. Note: the fee for listing your rental property on the MLS can vary significantly from one real estate agency to the next.

If you are a property owner who wants to sell your real estate in a FSBO (for sale by owner), you can get a limited MLS listing. Some real estate agencies offer a flat fee MLS listing service. For a flat fee, your property will be listed on an MLS and then syndicated to other platforms like Zillow and Trulia.

Each MLS was started and funded by local realtor associations in its region. Each has its own governing body. As an example, Stellar MLS serves central Florida and has fifteen shareholders (who would technically own the MLS).

An MLS typically has no direct public access. For example, access to Stellar MLS (stellarmls.com) is only available to members. The listings on Stellar MLS, however, can be indirectly accessed through a participating realtor or an online real estate platform such as Zillow or Trulia.

You cannot join an MLS without a real estate license.

Zillow is not an MLS. Zillow and other real estate platforms syndicate the listings from more than 800 MLS throughout the USA.