What is IDX? (Internet Data Exchange)
What is Internet Data Exchange?
Internet Data Exchange (“IDX”), also referred to as “Broker Reciprocity,” is the next stage in the evolution of MLS as the primary means of enhancing cooperation between REALTORS® to facilitate the purchase and sale of real property. IDX gives MLS Participants the ability to authorize limited electronic display of their listings by other Participants. Under IDX, brokers exchange consent to display each other’s listings on participants’ websites and using applications for mobile devices that participants control.(Revised 6.1.12) – Source: NAR
What is IDX? In short it stands for Internet Data Exchange. It is seen as an agreement between listing Agents and/or Brokers and Buyers’ Agents that allows active, pending, and sold MLS listings to be displayed online. It’s built on a policy of cooperation—real estate brokers agree to share and display each other’s MLS listings online, giving consumers one place to view the full range of available properties in a market. This mutually beneficial system, implemented in mid-2000, has profoundly impacted the real estate industry by significantly broadening the exposure of online listings.
The beauty of IDX is that, instead of sending visitors to big portals like Zillow or Redfin, IDX keeps potential buyers on your site, where you control the experience, capture leads, build trust, and promote your brand. By integrating IDX into your website, you not only showcase your own listings but also provide comprehensive, accurate MLS data that boosts engagement, improves SEO, and helps you compete online.
What is the history of IDX?
With the rapid growth of the Internet in the late 1990s, more brokerages began building their online web presence to connect directly with clients. Recognizing this shift, the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) formed a special work group in 2000 to create policies that allowed MLS listings to be shared online while protecting professional standards and client relationships. At NAR’s 2000 Midyear meeting, the Board of Directors approved rules permitting MLS participants to display each other’s listings on their websites, launching what we now know as IDX. View the most current MLS Policy.
It was at this point that our company, IDXCentral (Moineau Design LLC), was approached by the Tahoe Sierra Board of Realtors. They asked us to build one of the nation’s first IDX solutions. This marked the beginning of our 25-plus years of experience in developing websites with IDX.
How does IDX Work?
Technically, IDX works by creating a secure data feed between the MLS and a Broker or agent website. IDX software or plugins pull in property data—photos, details, pricing—and update it typically multiple times a day. This ensures that visitors see accurate, up-to-date listings without leaving your site. To showcase listings on your website, MLS membership is mandatory, with protocols in place to ensure compliance.
Unlike big portals such as Zillow or Trulia, which rely on syndication and may show outdated or incomplete information, IDX delivers comprehensive local MLS listings directly. Another key difference is lead ownership: portals often sell leads back to agents, while IDX allows you to capture and nurture leads yourself from all the listings on your website.
In short, IDX keeps buyers on your site, provides the most reliable data, and positions you as the trusted local resource.
Why is IDX so important for my real estate website?
Around 96% of home buyers start their search online. If your site doesn’t have an advanced IDX, those visitors will move on to one that does. IDX encourages visitors to return to your site as they check in for the latest listings. Offering the best in IDX technology and features will cater to your buyers and sellers needs. It will also help you stand out in a competitive real estate market.
One of the most recent advancements today is a IDX premium map search that offers the best user experience. Read on about some of the latest advancements Premium Map Search: The Game-Changing IDX for Your Real Estate Website.
IDX can ensure your leads think of you first when they are ready to contact a REALTOR®; with New Listing Notifications and automated market reports (MarketBoost), you’re able to keep your name and brand at the forefront of your lead’s property hunt. Akin to having your own personal assistant, IDX will automatically send an email with the latest listings that match the leads favored search criteria. This ensures your leads will stay informed and always have your contact information within quick reach.
Use IDX to showcase YOUR listings by using the Featured Listing tool, giving extra exposure to your client’s listings. Use it as a great marketing tool that can give you a leg up when competing to land a new listing. If you don’t have any listings to use, that’s fine too! You can always use the IDX to display real estate around your area, drawing in buyers and sellers alike.
Ultimately, to succeed in real estate you have to stay competitive! It’s more important than ever to have a mobile responsive website that caters to the vast mobile market. As an agent, having a site you own is in your best interest.Establish your brand, expand your business, and preserve the effort invested in your website for years to come! We offer both semi-custom and fully custom websites for real estate professionals and/or their office, complete with IDX integration.
Other features of a great IDX:
- All leads are YOUR leads. IDX leads go directly to you. When you refer your buyers to a company site, you could be losing business.
- SEO friendly & indexable listings: all listings are indexed under your URL, giving you valuable SEO benefits
- Mobile IDX Search: phone & tablet users will be able to use the IDX with ease
- Interactive Mapping: an easy to use visual tool that allows people to search a specific area via map points
- New Listing Notifications: automatic emails are sent to your leads as new listings enter the IDX
- Lead Capture Forms: allows your leads to sign up with you, can be set to varying levels of intensity
- WordPress Compatible: great for any WordPress site, including our Real Estate WordPress sites
How do I go about getting the best IDX for my site?
In our 25+ years of experience, including developing our own IDX Solution, we’ve learned that no single IDX Solution can meet every client’s needs. Start by asking yourself some simple questions:
- What type of properties do you typically deal with?
- Is there any special criteria your clients need to search by?
- Is the solution for yourself only, a small team or an entire office of agents?
- Do you want control of the search criteria your visitors use to find properties?
- Do you want to customize the design and layout of the IDX data?
- Do you want an IDX with a built in CRM?
These are just a few of the questions that will help us recommend the best solution for you – and as experts at IDX integration and longstanding members of the industry, we have a deep understanding of what goes into creating a powerful IDX. We’ve been at the forefront of IDX since the start, and have since partnered with two of the largest IDX providers around; we provide IDX to REALTORS® from Baja Mexico, the U.S and Canada.
We’ve witnessed the shift in technology in the real estate industry, propelled by IDX. As technology continues to progress, we’ll continue to grow and adapt alongside it, and you should too!
Our History with IDX Broker Reciprocity
Moineau Design / IDXCentral boasts a rich history spanning over 30 years. We began in 1995 as a boutique web design studio, crafting websites for the local Lake Tahoe tourism industry. By 2000, we pivoted our expertise to focus on IDX (Internet Data Exchange) creating one of the first IDX solutions available in the country. Our business quickly gained momentum as REALTORS® recognized the immense value of owning a website where buyers could browse property listings from the comfort of their homes. Ron Hemig, one of our first customers at Hemig and Erle, put it best. After seeing the potential of a website with IDX, he called it “a no-brainer!”
In our early years, we quickly grew reaching markets in Northern Nevada, Central California, and the Lake Tahoe region as real estate took off. By 2008, we expanded our reach further, partnering with two nationwide IDX providers to reach more REALTORS® and help them establish their first IDX-powered websites. To date, we’ve supported over 5,000 agents and brokers across the country empowering them with websites built on WordPress powered with the best IDX Broker Reciprocity solutions. Explore our glowing Google reviews and comprehensive client testimonials to see the dedication we bring to our work. We’ve always enjoyed the ability to empower REALTORS® to thrive online.
We take immense pride in our boutique business and the enduring relationships we’ve built with our clients. It’s truly special to see our partnerships continue through generations, with the children of original clients now leading their family businesses and choosing to remain with us. This loyalty is invaluable.
Why Partner with IDXCentral?
We specialize in simplifying the complexities of the IDX Broker Reciprocity landscape. Even seasoned developers often encounter challenges with IDX integration, resulting in unexpected display or functionality issues. Our expertise in IDX integration is precisely where we can help. We can save you and your development team valuable time by resolving these problems efficiently. Beyond troubleshooting, we also offer innovative website solutions to enhance your IDX further. Our sales team will collaborate with you to understand your real estate objectives and IDX requirements, guiding you to the most suitable solution. Following your decision, our dedicated support team will be ready to provide assistance.
“Such a fantastic experience with this company! Dylan Schimmel has been so informative and patient through the entire experience getting our website up and running. Cannot say enough good things about how knowledgeable they are and quick in response time, willing to work with creative liberty and helpful with every detail. HIGHLY RECOMMEND this company and Dylan for all their hard work and dedication to our project.” – Jacqueline Torres
Call 888-577-8027 to talk to us about an IDX.