Can someone explain to me what IDX is? Is this only available in the U.S.? From my understanding, IDX offers solutions to make MLS listings available on agents' websites.

I've been browsing through some Canadian real estate agents' sites and some have the functionality to browse through MLS listings. What companies offer this service?

Thanks,
David

MLS - (Multiple Listing Service) operations in Canada are largely independently owned and operated by local real estate boards and as such have very strict rules and regulations that are always in a state of flux due to the fast-paced and even faster changing world of the Net.

In the U.S.A. MLS operations are owned by multiple sources; some are privately owned, others corporate-owned - some have BOR restrictions and others appear to have little or no supervision.

Only your local real estate board can provide the answer to your Canadian question. Check in with the MLS Committee at your specific board location.

The are many changes in the works due to the DOJ situations in the U.S.A. vis a vis NAR (National Ass'n of Realtors) that now impact Canada as well (nearly everything that happens there eventually impacts the way we do business); in this situation in particular, largely as the result of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act - look for some very new information coming to a Board near you in the very near future. Better yet, if you are a Realtor - join the committee and play a role in the decisions your Board makes

"Going where tomorrow is - hope to see you there." Carolyne

Proudly putting my name to my work ~ CAROLYNE ~ Realty Corp.
Brampton real estate = http://www.ThatGirlRealEstate.com

http://www.TechOrganizer.com = http://www.MyBackUpBook.com/

IDX is a system of rules and enabling technologies that allow MLS participants to give each other permission to display each others listings on their websitse.

This is pretty much the simple answer. You can find more info if you want at Realtor link.

IDX is a method to get the date into your web frame from an FTp server from MLS. Now CREa provide this service and you can get an infomation pkg by sending an email to info@crea.ca
Or maul me. I will send a copy yhay I have
info@mortgage-experts.ca

homemortgage

I’m not sure what you’re referring to.

But IDX – is short for Internet Data Exchange – It’s board driven.

The member brokers of a given board agree share listings with each other.

Members are allowed to display the listings of other members on their personal web sites.

There are many issues and arguments for and against, but in the end, it’s up to each broker.

You can see an example at this site:

http://www.MovingToCollingwood.com

The Georgian Triangle is one of the few boards on Ontario that have it.

With regards to the question of availability, it really has nothing to do with CREA.

I'm not sure what Carolyne was referring to with "largely as the result of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act" I've attended several meetings with members of NAR and have never heard this before.
I agree with the simple answer as to what is IDX - and the fact that it is Board-driven in Canada. London-St Thomas Board seems to have successful IDX as well.

It's board-driven, no wonder I couldn't find anything about IDX on the Toronto Real Estate Board. However, I found on TREB's third-party section that http://www.concepts.ca and http://www.crwork.com offer IDX solutions for agents who hosted their website with them. So, if IDX is board-driven how do these companies offer it?

IDX is provided by third party, and delivered to agents via agreements between the third parties and individual boards (broker levels may apply). MLS.ca is a seperate provider, who will provide generic templating in a framed site, again via board/broker/agent agreements.

So, in order for me to use IDX:

1) I could create my own IDX but would need to gather and obtain agreement from agents, brokers, boards

or

2) Purchase a solution provided by a third-party

Correct?

you would not be able to create your own, as few, if any boards, would allow their data to be used in such an independant way.

You would purchase it through a third party, if your board has such in place.

MLS.ca framing can be done without cost, but agreements must be in place (varies with boards).

altarealtor, thanks for the info! I prefer not to use framing, but I'll go with a third-party. I just hope they have pricing for the IDX feature alone and that I don't have to host my website with them.

dluu

You are talking at cross purposes.

In order to have access to IDX, the real estate board you belong to must have bylaws that adopt the technology.

That’s the 3rd party.

Because each broker “owns” their listings, each broker must choose to share their listings with the others, allowing them to advertise (display) the listings on each other’s personal web sites. To choose not to is called “opting out” in which case the listings of that broker would be excluded from the IDX.

If too many opt out, the 3rd party cannot use them and having IDX is ineffective.

Very few boards in Ontario have IDX agreements.

If you belong to TREB you don’t have it, can’t get it – SOL.

I think the links you posted are for site developers, who can, if available integrate IDX into their sites (it’s just a link).

As a matter of clarity – you cannot frame mls .ca on you site - they don’t allow it – and you are not allowed to deep link to your respective board page either. Your only option (according to mls .ca) is to link directly to their index page and it must open in as a new page.

Hope this helps

Dave,

Thanks for the clarification.

I guess what's still confusing me at this moment is that I understand TREB doesn't have IDX but the website companies (mentioned above) do or, in the least, have a form of it. They provided me a link of a TREB agent who's using their service:

http://www.getleo.com/home_search.asp

MLS.ca does in fact provide you a stripped down page that you do frame in your site. But it only comes with a board agreement.

David,
There are a few other providers out there in addition to the ones that you mention that have IDX solutions for Toronto (e.g. www.realtor.com , www.moneymaker4agents.com , and others) In each of these cases, the brokerage must agree to share their listings with other subscribers to the service for the listingd to appear on the individual agent's website. This is why you will find that the various providers may have between 25-75% of TREB's active listings in their system for a given district. Some providers have more brokerages signed up than others, so the search results from one website providor to the next can really vary.