Princeton Town Topics – Let’s Talk Real Estate – September 2, 2009
THE MLS OF THE FUTURE
Multiple Listing Service (MLS) organizations may soon change dramatically. These local and regional groups, where information about currently available properties is cooperatively pooled into one source, have productively served consumers and real estate professionals since the late 1800s. Most MLS groups have been owned and operated by local Boards of Realtors, affiliated with the National Association of Realtors.
Since the computer and internet revolution in the 1980s, the MLS services have become more widely available. Today, an increasing number of prospective home buyers access computer-generated MLS property information as their first effort in finding a needed home. When they find one or several homes that seem to meet their requirements, they often call in a Realtor to pursue their quest and negotiate the purchase transaction.
No longer restricted to local organizations, the MLS of the future will be vastly expanded in scope and services to the benefit of consumers and professionals alike, according to a National Association of Realtors report.
