I have recently written a web based interface in PHP to a MySQL db for our local board of realtors. So far, they love it. Rather than selling the software to them, they pay a monthly access fee ($20/mo per agent) to post listings etc. The site is MultiList Central (www.multilistcentral.com).
If you would like to talk about possibly working together about doing this same thing in Texas (I am out of Kansas, and am currently scheduled to begin talks with three more cities about doing the same thing for them) then shoot me an e-mail - jonathan at lite dot net.
Realtor.com is updated by many, many smaller MLS systems. These MLS systems usually post the updated information nightly (at least, that's how often realtor.com _wants_ you to update the information via an XML based file that you FTP to their site everynight).
In order to post listings to realtor.com, the board of realtors in that city must agree to a set of MLS rules (one of those rules are generally that listings must be posted within 72 (or less) hours to the MLS system), then their location realtor association approves the rules, then NAR approves them. Once they have been approved, then the real estate board must find an MLS system that will work with realtor.com -- generally not too hard to find.
In my experience, MultiList Central (http://www.multilistcentral.com) has been the best company to work with. Again, that's just my opinion.
Slashdot Mirror
I have recently written a web based interface in PHP to a MySQL db for our local board of realtors. So far, they love it. Rather than selling the software to them, they pay a monthly access fee ($20/mo per agent) to post listings etc. The site is MultiList Central (www.multilistcentral.com).
If you would like to talk about possibly working together about doing this same thing in Texas (I am out of Kansas, and am currently scheduled to begin talks with three more cities about doing the same thing for them) then shoot me an e-mail - jonathan at lite dot net.
Realtor.com is updated by many, many smaller MLS systems. These MLS systems usually post the updated information nightly (at least, that's how often realtor.com _wants_ you to update the information via an XML based file that you FTP to their site everynight).
In order to post listings to realtor.com, the board of realtors in that city must agree to a set of MLS rules (one of those rules are generally that listings must be posted within 72 (or less) hours to the MLS system), then their location realtor association approves the rules, then NAR approves them. Once they have been approved, then the real estate board must find an MLS system that will work with realtor.com -- generally not too hard to find.
In my experience, MultiList Central (http://www.multilistcentral.com) has been the best company to work with. Again, that's just my opinion.