Almost all MLS providers support IDX (Internet Data Exchange) or RETS (Real Estate Transaction Standard) as a standard for their members to display MLS listings on their own website. This is called MLS Integration.

There are 3 different methods for IDX MLS Integration:
1. IDX Framing which is a non-organic MLS integration method, displays only the MLS listings on the given website through iFrame . Meaning that there is no real data transfer from the MLS to the real estate website and all the listing information loads directly from the MLS provider. The disadvantage of this system is that it causes your website to be low rank in the results on search engines (Not recommended for medium or large websites).

2. IDX FTP Integration transfers the MLS Data to the real estate website database through FTP. This type of IDX Integration synchronizes the real estate website with the database of the MLS provider on any given time intervals (for example every 12 hours). In this scenario the website listing data loads directly from the website database and will cause the website to be seen more in the results of a Google search. The cost of integrating an MLS through IDX Technology is higher than RETS Integration because the difference between these 2 systems is comparable to the difference between MS-DOS and Windows. Recently most of the MLS Providers have moved to RETS, however still some are offering only IDX FTP Raw Data. This method considered to be a weak Organic method because the data does not synchronized and updated so often, so the search engines score a lower value compared to the RETS method.

3. RETS Integration is an Organic MLS Intgration method which transfers the MLS Data to the real estate website database through RETS Technology (Real Estate Transaction Standard). This method is becoming popular among realtors because it standardizes the way that IDX data is provided (compared to IDX FTP) and results in a lower overall cost of deployment. The second advantage of the RETS standard is that it provides the MLS data on an hourly basis. This means that as soon as a MLS record is updated, it shows the update immediately after the sync on the members’ websites.

The difference between RETS and FTP IDX is :

For data connectivity to MLS Providers there are 2 standards: FTP IDX and RETS. FTP IDX is the test-based legendary system and is slower compared to RETS.

RETS has a XML platform, therefore the integration work is easier and faster.

In addition RETS-based MLS systems are smarter in terms of sending updates (they only submit the updated data, not the whole data) causing the performance and speed to be higher in RETS.

You should ask your MLS provider which standard they provide. More than 80% of MLS providers can offer RETS.

Realtyna Property Listing (RPL) is compatible with all these methods above (IDX Framing as an independent Joomla page). We have already integrated a handful of major MLS providers like Mibor®, CTMLS®, PIN®, Rapattoni and more with RPL. For the integration price information please contact us.

* RETS Integration rules vary depending on the MLS provider. You can contact your MLS provider to receive the list of requirements and rules.

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