Did you know that the concept of MLS dates back to the 1800s?
According to the National Association of Realtors, during those times, real estate agents regularly met to discuss the properties they had for sale.
Today, most properties are listed through MLS (Multiple Listing Services), online databases of information about properties for sale.
Thus, real estate professionals can access accurate, real-time real estate data by scraping MLS data.
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Understanding MLS
Multiple Listing Service (MLS) is a centralized database used by real estate professionals to share information about properties for sale.
It is like a cooperative system in which real estate professionals list properties and gain access to those listed by others.
Real estate agents and brokers use the MLS to collaborate, sharing their listings with one another to reach a wider audience of potential buyers. This cooperation benefits both sellers, and buyers.
Types of Data Available on Web Scraping MLS
On web scraping MLS, the following are the types of data one can find:
|
Property Address |
Home Owner’s Association (HOA) Fees |
Square Footage |
| State | School District | Year Built |
| Neighborhood | Listing Agent Name | Listing Dates |
| Listing Price | Open House Dates | Photos |
| Price per Square Feet | Parking Details | Property Status (for sale, sold) |
| Number of Bathrooms | City | Property Tax Information |
| Lot Size | ZIP/Postal Code | Walk Score |
| Days on MLS | Property Type | Listing Agent Contact Information |
| Property Description | Sales Price | Heating/ Cooling Information |
| Virtual Tour Links | Number of Bedrooms | Additional Features (fireplace, pool) |
MLS Data Scraping: Benefits to Consider
With countless real estate websites like Zillow, Redfin, etc., available for buyers to browse through, one might think MLS has lost its importance. However the need for MLS still exists.
Because the MLS entries are made and maintained by licensed real estate professionals, the data is accurate and reliable.
Even online real estate websites containing national listings—such as Zillow, Redfin, and Trulia—pull data from the regional MLS databases.
The following are the benefits of web scraping MLS data:
- Market Analysis
- Property Evaluation and Pricing
- Investment Analysis
- To Feed Real Estate Websites
- To Track Agent Performance
Scraping MLS Data for Market Analysis
Web scraping MLS can give access to information about property listings, including prices, locations, sizes, and features. This information can be analyzed to understand current market conditions.
By analyzing this data, real estate professionals can identify trends, such as which neighborhoods are growing in popularity, how property prices are changing over time, and what kind of properties are in demand.
This comprehensive understanding of the market will aid agents and brokers in making informed decisions regarding property listings, marketing strategies, and client advice.
Scraping MLS Data for Property Valuation and Pricing
Scraping MLS data can help real estate professionals analyze the prices of comparable properties in the area, often referred to as comps. This allows them to set competitive prices for new listings and ensure they are attractive to buyers.
MLS data scraping benefits also include accurate property valuation, which helps realtors determine a property’s fair market value based on recent sales and current listings.
Scraping MLS Data for Investment Analysis
Investors can use scraped MLS data to identify potential investment opportunities. Analyzing data on property prices, rental yields, and market trends is a great way to pinpoint undervalued properties or areas with growth potential.
Detailed data analysis can also help in assessing the risks associated with different properties or locations. Understanding historical price trends and market dynamics will be an added advantage in making investment decisions.
Scraping MLS Data to Feed Real Estate Websites and Portals
Real estate websites and portals need extensive, up-to-date data to be a reliable real estate platform. Scraping MLS data ensures that these platforms have the latest and most comprehensive listings available.
With detailed and accurate listings scraped from MLS, real estate portals can offer a better user experience, helping buyers and renters.
Scraping MLS Data to Oversee Agent Performance
Real estate brokers can use MLS data to monitor the performance of their agents. By tracking metrics such as the number of listings, sales, and average time on market, brokers can identify top performers and those who might not be.
Why Scrape MLS Listings With a Web Scraping Service?
A web scraping service like ScrapeHero is an expert in data extraction. They have been extracting data from the Internet for a considerable amount of time and thus know everything there is to know about web scraping these platforms.
They will be able to handle any complexity that may arise and scale up or down as per your requirements. The other benefits include:
- Efficiency that comes with automation
- Accuracy and reliability
- Cost-Effectiveness
- Legal and Ethical Compliance
Web Scraping MLS With ScrapeHero’s Web Scraping Service
Here is why we say that it is best to do your web scraping MLS requirement with ScrapeHero:
- We have over a decade of experience, and real estate web scraping is one of our most sought-after services.
- Our platform is capable of crawling the web at thousands of pages per second and extracting data from millions of web pages daily.
- Our global infrastructure can handle complex JavaScript/ AJAX sites, Captcha, IP blacklisting, etc.
- We value privacy and do not publish your name or logo on our website.
- We have an industry-leading customer retention rate of 98%.
- Talking to our experts is free and comes with no obligations to sign up with us.
Your need for data might not be restricted to MLS data or some real estate data. If what you want is a reliable and cost effective partner who can take care of everything data for you, connect with ScrapeHero.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, it is possible to scrape MLS platforms using web scraping tools and techniques. However, it is best to rely on a web scraping service like ScrapeHero to ensure an efficient and cost effective process.
The legality of scraping real estate data or any other data for that matter depends on a number of factors. The nature of data, the area of jurisdiction, etc are some of them.
Read everything that is there to know about the legality of web scraping in our guide Is Web Scraping Legal.
Some MLS providers allows authorized users to access and download MLS data. But it is better to seek the help of a web scraping service like ScrapeHero in case you need MLS data.
Real estate web scraping is the process of using automated tools to extract data from real estate websites, including MLS listings. This data can include property prices, locations, descriptions, images, and other relevant information.
The collected data can then used for market analysis, property valuation, investment decision-making, and other purposes.
ScrapeHero’s real estate web scraping service is a service you can trust.
