| For most home buyers the term "MLS" is | | | | this industry holds trademark on MLS, yet |
| synonymous with homes for sale. And most of | | | | everyone uses it, sometimes for slightly different |
| the time, that's exactly what an MLS provides, | | | | purposes. The largest real estate group using the |
| but not always. A complete understanding of the | | | | term MLS are Realtors affiliated with the National |
| term "MLS" can help buyers search more | | | | Association of Realtors. They offer "MLS" as a |
| effectively for homes, and help prevent | | | | property search tool (standing for "multiple listings |
| uncertainty down the road. | | | | service") where agents share information, and |
| In the context of real estate, MLS usually stands | | | | buyers can search homes for sale - this is the |
| for "Multiple Listings Service". An MLS can provide | | | | classic use of the term most of us have come to |
| a system for real estate agents to share | | | | recognize, so it could be argued that Realtors |
| information on properties for sale, and market | | | | have largely defined MLS. But since Realtors don't |
| them more effectively. Buyers may also have | | | | own the term anyone in the industry can market |
| access to parts of MLS, and the ability to search | | | | their services with MLS, and not necessarily |
| it for homes and properties that meet their | | | | provide access to homes for sale. Non-Realtors |
| needs. In today's world of online real estate, | | | | have an equally valid claim on the term, and |
| where more than 80 per cent of buyers check | | | | regularly use it to market their services. But |
| the Internet first when searching for a home, a | | | | buyers accessing a non-Realtor owned "MLS" will |
| service like an MLS is very valuable tool because | | | | find something slightly different than on a |
| it allows property to be marketed efficiently | | | | Realtor-owned "MLS" where homes for sale are |
| under a brand that everyone recognizes. | | | | always offered. |
| However, the popularity of the term "MLS" has | | | | Many successful buyers see that "MLS" almost |
| also created a bit of confusion in the real estate | | | | always leads them to homes for sale, but that it's |
| industry. Because real estate is something many | | | | just one of several terms real estate agents and |
| of us think about every day, people may | | | | Realtors use to market property. Other popular |
| sometimes forget that MLS can and in some | | | | terms buyers should search include "homes for |
| cases does mean other things besides homes for | | | | sale", "real estate" and "listings". With a more |
| sale. In the sports world, the term is trademarked | | | | well-rounded approach buyers will access a wider |
| in America by Major League Soccer and its many | | | | selection, and be more likely to find the home of |
| professional teams. That trademark doesn't | | | | their dreams. |
| prevent real estate agents from using the term | | | | Start your MLS search in the Northville MI real |
| because soccer teams and homes for sale are | | | | estate area at This website makes a great |
| vastly different, and trademark legislators realize it | | | | resource for buyers and sellers entering the |
| - consumers don't have much chance of getting | | | | market, with its free local property search, real |
| confused here, although service providers | | | | estate blog reports, and extensive information on |
| sometimes do. The confusion begins when we | | | | Commerce Township homes and other properties |
| come back to real estate and see that nobody in | | | | in the regional market. |