Metropolitan Regional Information Systems
Encyclopedia
The Metropolitan Regional Information Systems, Inc. (known as MRIS) is the largest Multiple Listing Service
in the United States
. As of mid-July 2009, it serves 51,171 real estate professionals in Baltimore-Washington Metropolitan Area
including Maryland
, Washington DC, Northern Virginia
, and parts of West Virginia
and Pennsylvania
.
Currently this is the largest MLS in North America, and it has evolved from a county-based system controlled by individual Associations of Realtors
operating as members of and under the rules of the National Association of Realtors
. By the early 1990s it became apparent that a sophisticated computer-based system was necessary to integrate the MLS systems of the many counties and jurisdictions in the tri-state areas (or, at least, tri-jurisdictions) of Maryland, Washington, DC and Virginia, most of which were in close proximity to the capital.
Originally, many county Associations offered dumb-terminal access to the MLS only in brokers' offices at speeds such as 300 baud
and, eventually by the late 1980s, at 1,200 baud. After being founded in 1992, MRIS operated as a computer-based program on the Windows 3.1 operating system, with proprietary software issued by MRIS. (This was not unlike the plethora of internet access companies, each with its own software, which emerged at that time). Since updates required a new software release via floppy disc to be installed by all subscribers, changes came slowly.
It was only when MRIS decided to become an internet-based system with access available to all brokers/agents via the internet from any computer anywhere, that the present system was created.
On a daily basis, portions of the data from the full MRIS database of real estate listings is uploaded to public-access websites such as http://Realtor.com (with over 1 million listings nationwide) or to MRIS' own public-access site, http://homesdatabase.com, with the majority of the organization's members Washington DC area properties.
Multiple Listing Service
A multiple listing service is a suite of services that enables real estate brokers to establish contractual offers of compensation , facilitates cooperation with other broker participants, accumulates and disseminates information to enable appraisals, and is a facility for the orderly...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. As of mid-July 2009, it serves 51,171 real estate professionals in Baltimore-Washington Metropolitan Area
Baltimore-Washington Metropolitan Area
The Baltimore-Washington Metropolitan Area is a combined statistical area consisting of the overlapping labor market region of the cities of Baltimore, Maryland and Washington, D.C.. The region includes Central Maryland, Northern Virginia, and Jefferson County in the Eastern Panhandle of West...
including Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
, Washington DC, Northern Virginia
Northern Virginia
Northern Virginia consists of several counties and independent cities in the Commonwealth of Virginia, in a widespread region generally radiating southerly and westward from Washington, D.C...
, and parts of West Virginia
West Virginia
West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian and Southeastern regions of the United States, bordered by Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Ohio to the northwest, Pennsylvania to the northeast and Maryland to the east...
and Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
.
Currently this is the largest MLS in North America, and it has evolved from a county-based system controlled by individual Associations of Realtors
National Association of Realtors
The National Association of Realtors , whose members are known as Realtors, is North America's largest trade association. representing over 1.2 million members , including NAR's institutes, societies, and councils, involved in all aspects of the residential and commercial real estate industries...
operating as members of and under the rules of the National Association of Realtors
National Association of Realtors
The National Association of Realtors , whose members are known as Realtors, is North America's largest trade association. representing over 1.2 million members , including NAR's institutes, societies, and councils, involved in all aspects of the residential and commercial real estate industries...
. By the early 1990s it became apparent that a sophisticated computer-based system was necessary to integrate the MLS systems of the many counties and jurisdictions in the tri-state areas (or, at least, tri-jurisdictions) of Maryland, Washington, DC and Virginia, most of which were in close proximity to the capital.
Originally, many county Associations offered dumb-terminal access to the MLS only in brokers' offices at speeds such as 300 baud
Baud
In telecommunications and electronics, baud is synonymous to symbols per second or pulses per second. It is the unit of symbol rate, also known as baud rate or modulation rate; the number of distinct symbol changes made to the transmission medium per second in a digitally modulated signal or a...
and, eventually by the late 1980s, at 1,200 baud. After being founded in 1992, MRIS operated as a computer-based program on the Windows 3.1 operating system, with proprietary software issued by MRIS. (This was not unlike the plethora of internet access companies, each with its own software, which emerged at that time). Since updates required a new software release via floppy disc to be installed by all subscribers, changes came slowly.
It was only when MRIS decided to become an internet-based system with access available to all brokers/agents via the internet from any computer anywhere, that the present system was created.
Database systems offered by MRIS
MRIS operates two parallel systems available only to licensed brokers, agents, and others (such as appraisers): "MATRIX" which is the database of property listings in all classes (including residential to raw land and lots) and categories from "Active" through "Sold" going back over more than ten years; and "KEYSTONE" the data entry site for agents to input new listings and update them.On a daily basis, portions of the data from the full MRIS database of real estate listings is uploaded to public-access websites such as http://Realtor.com (with over 1 million listings nationwide) or to MRIS' own public-access site, http://homesdatabase.com, with the majority of the organization's members Washington DC area properties.
Member organizations
Originally, brokers and agents doing business in different jurisdictions would have been required to obtain membership in several different MLS systems. When joining an individual Association of Realtors and becoming affiliated with NAR at the same time, individual brokers and agents have the option of joining MRIS. However, it would be difficult to conduct business without having access to the MLS system.See also
- National Association of Realtors's for policies on MLS systems
- Multiple Listing ServiceMultiple Listing ServiceA multiple listing service is a suite of services that enables real estate brokers to establish contractual offers of compensation , facilitates cooperation with other broker participants, accumulates and disseminates information to enable appraisals, and is a facility for the orderly...
for details on other MLS systems - Flat fee MLSFlat fee mlsFlat Fee MLS generally refers to the practice in the real estate industry of a seller entering into an "à la carte service agreement" with a real estate broker who accepts a flat fee rather than a percentage of the sale price for the listing side of the transaction. The buyer's broker is still...
for an alternative new MLS system - Real estate trendsReal estate trendsReal estate trends is a generic term used to describe any consistent pattern or change in the general direction of the real estate industry which, over the course of time, causes a statistically noticeable change...
for the importance of MLS in the future