IDX Information
How do I get started?
Pricing
Baldwin MLS charges the website vendor for all data feed cost and utilizes the Paragon account Management (PAM) system. Please have your vendor login into their PAM account for pricing. If it is a new vendor, please have the vendor send an emaIl to Data@baldwinrealtors.com
What is IDX?
IDX stands for Internet Data Exchange. This refers to the data exchange between an MLS board’s database and a 3rd party website and is viewed as a form of advertising. The listings that are displayed here are only those allowed by other participants, but almost always includes the vast majority of the MLS database.
What is RETS?
RETS stands for Real Estate Transaction Standard. RETS is an industry standard protocol or framework that allows real estate companies, brokers, or 3rd parties to receive data from the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) servers, and other real estate systems provided they also have software installed designed to communicate using the RETS framework. The National Association of REALTORS® refers to RETS as a "common language".
IDX vs Advertising
There has often been confusion over what constitutes IDX versus what is considered advertising. IDX and advertising are independent of each other. For a breakdown of when the IDX Rules apply vs when Advertising Rules please see the table below:
When a broker receives the IDX data feed they enter into a contract with BCAR which requires them to adhere to the IDX Rules and Regulations. IDX Rules are outlined in BCAR's MLS Rules and Regulations Section 18.
Advertising is a form of marketing communication used to promote or sell something, usually a business's product or service. In real estate, advertisements are often in the form of postcards, flyers, email marketing, or third party websites like Craigslist and Facebook. It is important to remember a listing shall not be advertised by any Participant other than the listing Participant without the prior consent of the listing Participant. The following requirements are at a minimum required for advertising per NAR Ethics, AREC License Law, and BCAR MLS Rules and Regulations:
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No false manipulation of the listing data, the ad must present a true picture and not otherwise mislead consumers
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The advertising agent cannot portray the listing as their own or belonging to their office
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The ad must include the statement “courtesy of” or similar with reference to the listing firm in a font that is the same size and color as the rest of the content
Advertise Rules Apply
Examples
Print Advertisements
Magazines, Flyers
Examples
IDX Rules Apply
Listing searches via IDX feed on participant website
Coldwellbanker.com
Manually entered listings on a website not operated by a participant
Zillow, Craigslist, Trulia
Listing searches utilizing a data feed on a third-party site
Realtor.com
Manually entered Social Media Posts
Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest
Manually entered listings on a website operated by a participant
Featured properties on ziprealty.com
Blog Posts
ActiveRain.com
Social posts that link back to IDX participant website
Facebook post linked to remax.com