In the first report of its kind, the National Association of Realtors' (NAR) Center For Realtor Technology has studied IDX adoption and implementation in case studies of MLS organizations across the country.

IDX stands for Internet Data Exchange, a guideline suggested by the NAR for MLS organizations to enable participating brokers to publish multiple listings service (MLS) listings for consumer viewing on their company and privately owned Web sites.

"This is a guide for technology types," explains Mark Lesswing, spokesperson for the Center. "But there were some stunning results, particularly the range and scope of the solutions."

According to Lesswing, MLSs are spending from $500 to $500,000 to implement Broker Reciprocity solutions. Agent News has already published a number of stories illustrating how some MLSs are turning Broker Reciprocity into new sources of revenue, as MLS listings payments from national aggregators begins to wane.

The Center points out that many of the more expensive solutions included marketing and publishing tools for brokers and agents, such as Web sites, that were not NAR-mandated for the implementation of Broker Reciprocity. These are presented as additional services to members. Lower costs were attributed to vendor-supplied solutions included in current maintenance agreements or at low additional costs, or to efforts by internal technical staff.

Of interest is the fact that 21 percent of respondents provided IDX solutions without offering a Web site, and 30 percent of those that do offer a Web site did not provide an Internet search mechanism, but said they plan to in the future.

Of the 40 survey respondents, which included MLS organizations and boards of Realtors of various sizes, close to 100 percent of available listings were published within a year of implementation. According to the report's findings, this dispelled the myth that only larger boards could afford to implement IDX solutions. Four out of 30 respondents (not all respondents included MLS participation numbers) were classified as small MLSs with less than 1000 listings. Seventeen out of 30 contained less than 5000 listings, while 13 had over 5000 listings.

Among the most popular solutions used by the MLSs were data download and smart-framing. Many MLSs such as Houston(HAR) offers both.

"A lot of people interpreted the policy differently, there is a policy and then there is the spirit of the policy," observed Lesswing.

The most significant finding was the widespread adoption of Broker Reciprocity by board members. Over 88 percent of respondents reported that they had 95 percent of listings available through IDX, and the NAR expects those numbers to improve.

Yet, while brokers endorsed Broker Reciprocity, less than 10 percent have actually adopted it into their personal Web sites. "There's still some fear about that," says Lesswing. "Of the people who have put it up, they have about 90 percent of the listings. For boards with the opt out option, the opt out rate is low - four percent."

According to surveys performed six months after adoption and then one year after adoption, it was found that six out of 19 (32 percent) respondents say their members were using download solutions after six months. That number jumped to eight out of 15 (53 percent) respondents reporting interest after one year.

"The NAR is pleased with how many MLSs are compliant," sums Lesswing. "If you look at the average cost, it was less than $10,000. By and large it isn't a large expense, it is more the time involved to get it up and running, or the utilities to do anything with the data. That 10 percent adoption shows the spirit of how it was intended to be used."

The Center for Realtor Technology will continue to provide new, useful information to Realtors to assist them in making technology decisions. Watch for updates on Agent News.

Published: November 8, 2001

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Blanche Evans is the award-winning senior editor of Realty Times, the Internet's leading independent real estate news service. She is featured daily on the Realty Times Video Network in the "Realty Viewpoint" segment. Blanche has been named one of the "25 Most Influential People In Real Estate" by REALTOR Magazine, and has been twice recognized as a "notable." In 2005, she was named "Top Reporter Covering the NAR" by Delahaye-Bacon's. Blanche is a renowned author of five real estate books. Her newest, Bubbles, Booms and Busts: Make Money In Any Real Estate Market, McGraw-Hill, was rave-reviewed by The New York Times. She was also selected from hundreds of real estate experts to contribute to Donald Trump's book, Trump: The Best Real Estate Advice I Ever Received: 100 Top Experts Share Their Strategies, Rutledge Hill Press, and is featured on page 68. Order Now Review - Honors In 2006, Blanche was selected among scores of candidates to author two consumer real estate guidebooks for the National Association of Realtors: The NAR Guide to Home Buying, and The NAR Guide to Home Selling, Wiley & Sons. She is currently planning two new books for the NAR and its members.       Known for her keen insight into real estate industry issues and for her ability to make complex subjects easy to understand, Blanche is a sought-after keynote and continuing education speaker. Real estate organizations from MLSs, to brokerages, to franchisors, to associations hire her to provide up-to-the-minute analysis of real estate industry news and advice on how to improve revenues. Her passionate delivery, peppered with stinging wit, is a huge hit with audiences and fans. Don Klein, CEO Greater Nashville Association of Realtors, Blanche Evans, Richard Courtney, president 2007, GRAR "The GNAR membership meeting last week featured Blanche Evans as the keynote speaker. Her comments and insights resonated extremely well with those in attendance and we have had many requests for copies of her PowerPoint Presentation. She was a terrific part of the membership meeting and convention program!" - Don Klein, CEO Greater Nashville Association of Realtors Coverage from WSMV, Nashville - 8-14-2007 That Interview Guy - Get Inside The Head Of Today's Generation 2007 AE Institute Session - To purchase 2006 AE Institute Session - Parts 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 HouseValues Mastermind call - Parts 1 2 Blanche's fireside chat with Jeremy Conaway, HAR - Click here. To contact Blanche, email her at . For more articles by Blanche, click here.