Making the Most of Florida Multiple Listing Services

Save money when you obtain Florida MLS listings

Making the most of Florida multiple listing services requires that you understand the advantages that multiple listing services offer to both buyers and sellers. Buyers are able to obtain instant access to many properties that meet their purchase criteria, such as price, location and special features. Sellers are able to expose their property to thousands of prospective buyers that they would otherwise not be able to reach.

A Florida real estate MLS may also contain listings from unrepresented sellers, although there is no specific category for a For Sale By Owner (FSBO) listing. There are three things to note when listing a FSBO property in a multiple listing service:

1. An instruction to present an offer directly to the seller is frequently discouraged or even prohibited on a Florida MLS service.
2. A FSBO may sometimes pay a flat fee to a discount real estate broker in order to be listed. However, the seller is still not actually represented.
3. The selling commission may be less than that offered by traditional real estate brokers, which provides less incentive for the agent to show the listing.
   

 

Find out more about the laws regarding Florida multiple listing services

Each state has its own multiple listing services laws. These laws cover issues such as fair housing, licensing verification and disclosure requirements.
Try: The Northeast Florida Association Realtors offers news on real estate legislation, such as the Realtor Housing Stimulus Plan. The Florida Department of Business & Professional Regulation provides statutes regarding real estate in Florida.

Conduct an Florida MLS search to get information on an area

Multiple listing services frequently provide data on neighborhoods in addition to listing properties for that area. These services may also provide a schedule of open houses and other related events in specific neighborhoods.
Try: OwenResidential.com provides a property search and a description of neighborhoods in Southwest Florida. Celebration Home Sales provides community information and satellite photographs of its properties in Central Florida.

Use Florida home listings to get information on schools

Home buyers are usually interested in the school district in which a property is located. This applies even if the buyer doesn't have children since homes in better school districts tend to have a higher resale value.
Try: The Langrocks offers an MLS search of properties in the Tampa Bay area and provides information on schools such as assignment maps. Delray Beach Real Estate lists properties in Palm Beach County and provides information on schools and other aspects of community life.

 

• Use Florida multiple listing services to receive new listings through email. Comprehensive listings by email are another service that may be provided by a multiple listing service. Florida agents can customize a search that only will send you results that meet certain criteria such as location, price and specific features.

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