Is it digital advertising or an industry tool?

The answer to the question really depends on your location. If the question was asked in the USA, I think 99% of realtors would respond ‘industry tool’. Ask the question in Europe and the answer would be reversed with 99% of estate agents referring to MLS as digital advertising.

So what makes this technology be seen by the same industry, in two large geographical markets, in two totally different ways?

Since we’re not in Europe, IHS Realty isn’t much concerned with how our friends on the other side of the Atlantic use the MLS. We’re very concerned with how our friends in the real estate industry in the U.S. use it. We’re excited about the future because we know common FSBO sellers can use the MLS in the same manner that real estate agents have been using it for years. It may be an industry tool, but many real estate investors and one-time for-sale-by-owners may use it as an advertising tool. Either way is OK. The advantage to home owners who want to sell on their own is that can list their property on the MLS for one low fee and save thousands of dollars in real estate commissions. That’s the same no matter which side of the water you live on.

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