There’s no doubt that MLS.ca has become one of the most often-accessed and useful websites in Canada. Last year alone, MLS.ca recorded over three million unique visitors a month. That is close to 10% of Canada’s population and a huge number of people who are searching for homes and condos for sale. If you’re not familiar with what MLS.ca is, please read my previous article here.
On June 30th, MLS.ca will be replaced by realtor.ca, a new portal that will feature new graphics and new search features for web users. The old site will still be accessible but in time, it will slowly be phased out and replaced by the newer site. What are some of the features of realtor.ca?
- Interactive mapping provided by Microsoft Virtual Earth.
- More user-friendly search layout.
- Real estate related news.
The interactive mapping system has a ton of useful features and will radically change how you search and find a particular property. I invite you to give the website a spin when it launches.
If you’re either thinking of selling or buying a home, you’ve probably talked to friends or real estate agents and everyone seems to be saying the same thing. Put your house on MLS! But what exactly is MLS and why the big fuss? No, it’s not Major League Soccer.
MLS stands for Multiple Listing Service. It is a website that is run by the Canadian Real Estate Association and can be found by simply visiting www.mls.ca. MLS.ca is a tool that realtors from around the country and on various real estate boards use to market properties that are for sale. How does this benefit you as a seller or a buyer?
As a seller, your home will be marketed on the largest real estate listings database in Canada and exposed to potential buyers from across the globe. To give you an idea of how many people visit MLS, there were approximately 2.86 million unique visitors in January 2008, according to Comscore stats. MLS.ca is absolutely the best place for buyers to search for a home. Homes can easily be found according to cities and the criteria that is selected during the search. Every property listed on MLS will have vital details on the property for sale, and most provide photos of the home as well. MLS will also let you quickly and easily locate a Realtor.
Once you become familiar with MLS.ca, you’ll note that each property for sale has it’s own code number, known as the MLS Number. This number is useful to keep handy if you’re working with a real estate salesperson. If you want to book appointments on any homes, all you have to do is give the corresponding MLS number to your real estate representative, and they can easily book a time for you to visit the home.
Almost all Realtors will provide you with full MLS access when you list your home. Be sure to ask! MLS is an absolute must-have when you’re selling your home.
The new site sucks.Old site was so easy to use.Even I could find what I was looking for,and i am no computor expert.sience the change i have not able to use it.It is too complicated so i do not use it any more.Wish they go back to the old site thanks
I don't even try to use the new site anymore...I simply go to individual real estate websites...the new software is not user friendly and is not effecient