Inman

6 MLSs agree to share data

The six largest multiple listing services in North Carolina have joined forces in a data-sharing project that allows participants of any of the MLSs to display data from all six MLSs on a broker or agent Web site.

Dubbed Carolina Data Share, the initial members include: Brunswick County Association of Realtors, Carolina Multiple Listing Services Inc., North Carolina Mountains MLS, Triad MLS Inc., Triangle MLS Inc., and Wilmington Association of Realtors.

"All other MLSs in the Carolinas are invited to take part in CDS as well," according to a statement today from the participating MLSs.

Real estate technology vendor WolfNet has been selected to host the MLSs’ shared database.

Members of the participating MLSs can choose whether or not to display the shared data.

The MLSs said in the announcement that CDS "gives brokers the ability to compete against Web sites of national aggregators."

Some MLSs in other regions of the country have embarked on efforts to share MLS data and/or functionality. Several different sharing efforts are in progress in California, as an example (see Inman News story).

***

What’s your opinion? Leave your comments below or send a letter to the editor.