The Multiple Listing Service (MLS) as an Independent Agent.
If you are not a dues-paying realtor you can still likely get MLS access, if you want it. This is typically done one of two ways: Contact the MLS directly and to join. Contact the MLS’s affiliated board of realtors and ask for an MLS-only membership.
Some MLS fees are paid through a board of realtors, so you may have to go through a board to gain MLS-only access. This is different than a full-fledged realtor membership.
Do I Really Need MLS Access?
If you are representing a buyer, MLS access is not 100% necessary. If you are representing a seller then you are not doing a disservice by not posting the property in a MLS. It doesn’t have to be an MLS affiliated with a board of realtors, there is an alternative.
Representing a Buyer Without MLS Membership
While having MLS access is more convenient, it’s not necessary to carry out a purchase. The MLS is syndicated to several consumer sites. For example, when a buyer looks at homes on Zillow or Redfin, they are looking at the MLS with a consumer interface. These sites publish the buyers agent commission publicly. All MLS information is published except for private showing/agent remarks, but a buyer’s agent can simply call the listing agent to get this information.
