No MLS in my area????

Question

I just learned from my realtor that "there is no MLS" in my area. Therefore, my home is not listed in the MLS. Is that possible???
I was under the impression it was a nation-wide thing available to all realtors. Can someone please explain and/or help??? We're just having one problem after another with them. And now this too??!!!
I'm just dumb-founded. Please help =(

Answer 1

hmmm....well, the MLS is regionally based, generally linked up, but for example as a Southern California realtor, I can only access the mls for properties in my area...we have an alliance for most areas of Southern California, so I am able to access other regions of Southern California besides my immediate area, but, not, for example some areas between Los Angeles and San Diego whose boards have chosen not to join the alliance. (I hope that makes sense, it's been a long day)

Anyway, I'm guessing by your name that you are from Alabama somewhere, and I know that there are at least some areas in Alabama that are linked to the MLS...what you could do is check out Realtor.com and check for your city and see if anything comes up...if so, SOMEONE has found a way to list properties in your area on the MLS...

Now, there's a couple other possibilities.

1. Are you sure you have a Realtor, and not just an agent (Realtors belong to the Association of Realtors and have ethical requirements beyond state/federal law)? And are you sure your agent is licensed? Some greedy little agents will try to "pocket" a listing--so that only they show the property hoping to make both the buyer and seller commission. (not ethical, and I can't imagine a Realtor doing that..big trouble)

2. The agent just might not belong to the MLS, and is lying to you by saying there isn't one.

3. There might not be one, I guess. What do I know outside of CA? Nothing...but maybe a different agent outside of your area (say nearer a large city) would be able to post your listing on their MLS as an out of area listing, so at least it would appear on REALTOR.com for other humans to search.

So the next question is:
what does it say in your listing contract? What is your agent doing to market your property if not listing on the MLS? Oooh. I'm curious now, keep in touch, OK?

Katherine

Answer 2

Each area has it's own MLS. The service is owned by the regional Realtor Boards. If the Realtors in your area don't have one then that is it. However, I find it very strange that there is an area not covered by an MLS. I know that certain parts of Maine are not on any MLS but then very few people live there.
Call another agency in your area and ask them.

Answer 3

Virtually all areas of the United States is covered by some MLS system. Your "realtor" may not really be a "Realtor" which is a trademark for the National Association of Realtors. You must be a member in order to join MLS. Ask them if they are members. There are a few in our area who refuse to join and they fib about it to their customers. Ask them how they co-broke with other companies if not through MLS. Also, go into realtor.com and pull up listings in the town you are in. You will find out pronto if there are other listings on MLS in your area. (you can search by area)

Answer 4

MLS are managed on a regional basis. You'd need to locate the board of realtors for your area, and see what they have to say about it.

I am surprised that there's any areas in the US not covered by some form of MLS. But I also live in a bigger city.

Answer 5

Where in Alabama area you???

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