What is the Multiple Listing Service or MLS

The Multiple Listing Service or commonly called the MLS

The Multiple Listing Service or MLS is a system that delivers uniform data of the local Real Estate that is for sale.  There are literally hundreds of fields that are packaged in a very uniform format for easy of the co-operating real estate agents.  Here in Massachusetts and New Hampshire one separate MLS primarily covers each state.  In other states the MLS can be broken down into regions. 

By participating in the Multiple Listing Service, real estate agents and their brokers are agreeing to unilateral co-operation in the sharing of their listings with other real estate agents and brokers. They are also agreeing to the unilateral compensation to a selling agent who brings the home buyer to the table.  The listing of a commission in the Multiple Listing Service is considered a binding contract between participating agents.

The benefit of the Multiple Listing Service to sellers, is the exposure to literally thousands of agents who participate in the Multiple Listing Service, including feeds to many of the popular real estate websites like Realtor.com, Homes.com and many more.  The MLS is where most of the buyers turn to find their new home, thus exposing your home for sale to many buyers.

For buyers the MLS is the one stop to search the majority of the homes on the market.  Most real estate agents offer third party access to the MLS where over 90% of the homes for sale are listed.