Do you need to be a real estate agent to view the MLS

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Do you need to be a real estate agent to view the MLS

Stephen Settanni
Real Estate Investor · Tempe, AZ · Member since 2016 · 2 posts · 0 votes

Hi there fellow Bigger Pockets members!

I stumbled on this oasis of community knowledge from experts like yourselves about a week ago and so far I'm loving it! I'm exploring the possibilities of investing in real estate, so far I'm interested in single family or multi famiy homes in Raleigh, NC (I live in New Jersey, but wanted to try somewhere not too far that was cheaper). 

I've been looking at sites like trulia and zillow, but are there any other sites you would recommend for initial scouting? I have been hearing a lot about the MLS, do you need to be a real estate agent to view that? Any advice for a newbie like me is greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

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Kevin Hill
Real Estate Agent · Hackensack, NJ · Member since 2014 · 321 posts · 412 votes
9y

There is a public side of the MLS that you can view active properties. For homes in your area, try gsmls.com.

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  • Jeff B.
    Buy & Hold Owner · Redlands, CA · Member since 2015 · 5k+ posts · 2k+ votes
    9y

    It's a foregone conclusion it's a resource for realtors.  Sometimes you can hoodwink an agent to get you access, but then they will become responsible for how you use it and usually will disconnect you in a few months.

    It's not as great as everyone assumes, especially if your REI path is other than B&H. Individuals attempting to circumvent the listing agent quickly get into trouble and the agents start giving instructions to ignore you or refer you to an agent,

    Zillow & Loopnet are other sources but other than the physical location, the data should be held suspect

    1Reply
  • Kevin Hill
    Real Estate Agent · Hackensack, NJ · Member since 2014 · 321 posts · 412 votes
    9y

    There is a public side of the MLS that you can view active properties. For homes in your area, try gsmls.com.

    3Reply
  • Brandon L.
    Real Estate Agent · Falls Church · Member since 2012 · 2k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    9y

    @Stephen Settanni some places have a public version of the MLS but that is not always the case.

    1Reply
  • Jonathan GreeneBusiness Member
    Real Estate Consultant · Madison, NJ · Member since 2016 · 6k+ posts · 7k+ votes
    9y

    @Stephen Settanni - if this is going to be your first foray into real estate investment, it should NOT be that far away. It should be in your backyard so you can manage the investment instead of paying someone else to do it. Even if you are looking for a buy and hold investment, making your first outside of an easy commute will lead to excess expenses and issues that you won't be able to resolve with your eyes. You will always have to rely on someone else as to what is actually happening. Invest, just not in Raleigh right now.

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  • Jimmy Anthony
    Realtor in Vegas, NV · Member since 2016 · 5 posts · 5 votes
    9y

    I'm not sure if this applies where you live but I was told that realtor.com has pretty much what is in the MLS.

    3Reply
  • Odie Ayaga
    Specialist · Delran, NJ · Member since 2016 · 2k+ posts · 951 votes
    9y

    I was going to suggest Realtor.com as well. I tend to use a combination of realtor.com and zillow.com. Realtor is more current, but I tend to find Zillow to be more user-friendly

    2Reply
  • Bryan Almodovar
    Hardyston, NJ · Member since 2016 · 18 posts · 4 votes
    9y
    Hello Stephen Settanni I'm no were close to being an expert, but I did notice no one had mentioned loopnet.com. Which could be a good or a bad thing.
    1Reply
  • Keith N.
    Investor · Raleigh, NC · Member since 2015 · 189 posts · 102 votes
    9y

    Any agent should be able to hook you up to an "MLS portal" which pretty much allows you to use 90% of the funcionality of what agents have on the real MLS. You can get EXTREMELY specific with filtering using dozens and dozens of obscure criteria at once, to essentially narrow down on your exact target properties.

    2Reply
  • Jay HinrichsBusiness Member
    Real Estate Consultant · Summerlin, NV · Member since 2014 · 45k+ posts · 66k+ votes
    9y

    agents can set you up on top producer type program  put in your wants .. and you get e mails daily of new listings that meet your criteria... 

    giving out your MLS code to another is a bad bad thing for realtors they can get banned and fined 20k anyone doing this is taking huge risk .. not many will do it.

    I have seen agents give their assistants access which is allowed but customers no way

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  • Fred Lopez
    Investor · Fort Worth, TX · Member since 2016 · 21 posts · 15 votes
    9y

    @Stephen Settanni to answer your question, yes. 

    I just reached out to family and friends who were realtors and was up front about going into real estate investing and just wanting to pull comps and rents with it. I am much more confident now that I have access on my own and feel its a big tool to have in your arsenal for investing. 

    Good luck bud

    1Reply
  • Dawn BrenengenBusiness Member
    Moderator
    Real Estate Broker · Raleigh, NC · Member since 2014 · 2k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    9y

    @Stephen Settanni I would use Realtor.com if you just want to browse. It does pull data directly from our MLS. I can also give you access to an app called Homespotter that also pulls from MLS in real time. Let me know if you want to use it, and I'll get you access.

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  • Alvaro Castano
    Clifton, NJ · Member since 2015 · 13 posts · 2 votes
    9y

    Stephen,

    I lived in Raleigh several years ago and find the area delightful to live and raise a family.  There is a very large development going on now called Chatham Park.  I suggest you follow their plans.  They are a large developer and chances are they will pace the rate of construction depending on the economic outlook.  Best wishes!!

    1Reply
  • Michael McKenziePro Member
    Lender · Cary, NC · Member since 2016 · 82 posts · 13 votes
    9y

    @Stephen Settanni I'm from Raleigh I have a few buddies who are agents lets connect. 

    0Reply
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