Inman News reported on 3-19-08 that Connecticut initiated a statewide public property search site with 31,000+/- property listings.
CTreal.com features interactive mapping for home searches utilizing a Google-based mapping platform complete with a drawing tool that allows users to define the home search area.
Connecticut MLS Inc., is a broker-controlled MLS with about 13,000 members. It operates the website and posts information on all classifications of properties and is official statewide MLS of Connecticut. CTreal.com is the group's group's official website.
Connecticut began creating the website in March 2007. Cameron Paine, CEO for Connecticut MLS Inc., said that there was not unanimous agreement amongst the members to create the statewide public-search MLS website. He said, "I think there has been a change in the thinking of brokers and agents alike in that they now see a very strong benefit to the idea of a centralized source for their real estate listings."
A paper released by a real estate consulting group (un-named by Inman News) noted that real estate professionals are divided on their support for such a website while consumers are in favor of sites such as this. Cameron Paine noted that the success of HAR.com, a public MLS search site operated by the Houston Association of Realtors® draws more traffic among the region's users than all the real estate websites combined, including Realtor.com.
Connecticut MLS Inc. is currently considering whether it should send property information to third party websites such as Zillow.com, Cyberhomes. com and Trulia.com in the form of bulk listings, called listing feeds. Meanwhile, MLS Property Information Network, a Realtor® owned MLS in Shrewsbury, Mass., (having 30,000 participants) announced on 3-19-08 a partnership to provide such listing feeds to Zillow.
Connecticut MLS, Inc., is currently debating if it should offer its listings to other third party websites, Cameron Paine said that broker members will retain the right to choose whether or not to participate in this third-party website sharing.
Member brokers of CTreal.com can choose to participate or not in allowing their listings to be displayed on that site, as well. This has enabled the Connecticut MLS, Inc., great flexibility in allowing its members to choose their level of participation.
CTreal.com has no advertising displayed on the website and it is provided to its members at no additional cost. Connecticut MLS, Inc., will market the site mostly through online advertising along with billboards and some other methods to get the word out.
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