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 In the United States, any real estate broker with membership in good standing can apply for a raw IDX data feed via their local MLS board. Usually, this is a broker privilege only. Agents who want to develop custom IDX solutions must go through their broker. As a third party vendor, Dreamscape Multimedia will be required to sign confidentiality documents committing to only developing that IDX for that one site and to the benefit of only the applying broker.
Is there just one type of IDX feed or are there many?Each MLS has its own IDX solution, often they have more than one. Additionally, there is only one MLS board per area, so you will be going through your local MLS. If you are unsure who this is, begin with your local real estate association. How can I find out which IDX is right for my client's area?Not all MLS's provide an IDX feed. The MLS's are mandated to have an IDX solution, but there is no requirement for it to be a data feed. Many small MLS's provide a framable IDX solution only, allowing a web designer to embed the local real estate listings into the client's website. Often, this is the case with small MLS boards and usually it is because they lack the funds and/or manpower to create and run a regularly updated IDX data feed.
(Read about IDX Smart Frames versus IDX Data Feeds via FTP.) What are the costs associated with providing MLS IDX listings on our website?Most MLS's will either have separate fees for MLS service or they will bake the cost into their broker dues. Of those MLS's who make listings a separate fee, most will charge the broker a setup fee and often a maintenance fee. Check with your MLS board to see what charges apply to you.
Most MLS's do not charge the third party web developer for integrating an IDX feed or framed solution. As our customer, you would pay Dreamscape for hosting your Real MLS Pro listings search, effectively integrating Real MLS Pro with your web site.
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