Question

How do I create an ASP.NET website to search MLS or IDX listings for a real estate website? I’m assuming there is a C# library to do this? I’m curious about any pitfalls or unexpected expenses people have ran into in using these services?

Answer 1

David, every REALTOR belongs to a local area real estate board. In your case the Greater Lansing Association of Realtors aka GLAR.

There is a standard for moving this data called RETS Real estate transaction standards however not all programs the local boards use support it. Or, in the case of GLAR they do not enable it.

So often times you have to work directly with the CSV files that they provide to you nightly that you can access via FTP. They will often provide files for each major type of listing. Vacant properties, condos, residential etc.

You also have to download the images nightly. You can schedule a pull of all the data which is usually huge, and then schedule nightly ‘incremental’ updates each night.

It is quite a bit of work managing what is new, updated etc. so plan on that.

Also there is usually IDX data and VOW data. IDX you can show to all website visitors, VOW data you have to have them login with a verified email address.

Hope that helps, we have a half a dozen websites we have done that work with real estate data all in C#