MLS - multiple listing service

[haynbrian]

Hello all,

I am going to be involved in connecting a MLS Database to a website. I'm hoping I am using the correct terminology there, seeing that I've never had any contact with MLS in the past.

Does anyone here have any information that would lead me to a good tutorial site, or somewhere that I can learn more about displaying MLS information (real estate listings) on a web page.

If it helps, I am trying to get myself fluent in PHP, but I don't even know if that will help.

Any help is greatly appreciated,

Thanks,

Brian

[PeOfEo]

well you will need php or an equivalent language just to connect to your data base and edit it. You can look anywhere really just look at any good php tutorial site will have information on how to do it. But is mls a format? Or are you using regular mysql.

[haynbrian]

Well, from what I understand, and correct me if I'm wrong, but I think that MLS is a type of database. From what I've read so far, it seems to be dealt only within the realm of real estate. I would assume that I would have to use a language such as PHP to connect and display information from it, but I'm not sure.

[PeOfEo]

if you can do it with php you can also use cgi asp jsp shtml asp.net etc etc. But I have neaver heard of that format thats why I am wondering.

[Aronya1]

The MLS is a real estate database. To link to it, you have to be a realtor, and pay a fee. The realtor then has the right to pay someone to create a website for him, which links to a company like Sandicor, which displays the MLS listings.

As near as I can tell, you have to use frames, displaying the other company's site within your own, but you cannot access the MLS info directly.

[brendandonhue]

You must pay a fee to the board of realtors in your area to access MLS listings. It is not a free service, and in most areas, you must be a licensed real estate agent.
Regular users and visitors on your website are not supposed to have access to the MLS (in most cases).
I'm not sure if there is a standard in MLS databases, I have used 3 MLS services in different areas-each used a completely different website and had different options and commands.

[PeOfEo]

well what type of data base is it though? I mean is it mysql sql server what? If its its own type do they give you connection strings oranything so you can see how to connect to it?

[brendandonhue]

I don't know anything about that-I just go to the website and log in. They provide an interface for whatever type of database it is.
I log in with my (mom's) Real Estate Board ID, and password.

I google'd MLS, and I did find that there are a bunch of MLSs that let anyone go and search them. Maybe the one you need to connect to is the same way, the ones I have used are not.

[haynbrian]

Thanks for the insight everyone! Looks like it's not as complicated as I thought it was.