Brand New, How Do I Get Access To MLS?

[Maxwell Milholland]

Hello Again Bigger Pockets! Quick question today, how do I access the MLS? Can I pay for it like a subscription? Do I pay a realtor for it? Do I have to become a realtor? Any advice greatly appreciated!

[Matt Hernandez]

Hi Maxwell! I agree with the other Matt - for investor purposes, Redfin isn't bad. I believe they scrape most of their data directly from the MLS; that means there will be a bit of a delay, but for most people it won't be too big a problem. You could partner with a realtor for access as well, or to have them research specific listings on your behalf. That's not a bad approach, either.

Really though, you should be thinking about strategies to find and buy properties that are off-market. This is where you're really going to be able to find property at a discount and maximize your returns while also ensuring the lowest basis (and therefore the lowest amount of risk). Hope that helps!

Matt Hernandez | Instructional Designer at AceableAgent, TREC License #680895