What is the Austin MLS?
The Austin MLS is a database of properties listed for sale with REALTORS in the Austin area. Agents enter specific information for each of their listings and offer to share their total commission with any agent that brings a buyer to the property. In most cases, listing agents don’t actually produce the buyers for their own listings. Typically, buyer’s agents bring the buyers to the home, and the listing and buyer agents end up splitting the total real estate commission.

Membership in the Austin MLS is generally considered to be essential to the practice of real estate in the Austin area because without it, listing agents couldn't produce enough exposure to their listings to actually sell them and buyer's agents wouldn't have access to a comprehensive list of properties for sale in the area for their buyers to see.

Who Has Access to the Austin MLS?
Only agents licensed by the Texas Real Estate Commission and members of the Austin Board of Realtors can gain access to the Austin MLS. Many home buyers make the mistake of thinking they can access the MLS through online searches on sites such as www.Realtor.com, but the data the public can view is often limited in scope and can sometimes be outdated. However, this doesn’t necessarily mean a buyer or seller can not gain access to the information contained in the Austin MLS. Austin Realtors can provide their client with any information requested of them, but can not allow a client to access the MLS directly.

Who Owns the Austin MLS?
The Austin MLS is owned and managed by the Austin Board of Realtors. The Austin Board of Realtors sets its own rules for access, membership, and sharing of information among its members, but is still subject to nationwide rules established by the National Association of Realtors.

What Information is Available in the Austin MLS?
Austin MLS listings contain specific information regarding each property listed in the MLS from the address, lot size, year built, and square footage to schools districts, property taxes, and types of financing the seller will consider. There is typically at least a handful or so photos for each property and in many instances a link to a virtual tour.

The Austin MLS is not just a tool for listing properties for sale in the Austin area. It also provides a record of properties that are currently pending or that have already sold. This data allows Austin real estate agents to run market analysis for sellers and help them properly price their properties by showing them what other comparable properties have recently sold for in their neighborhoods. Austin buyer’s agents are also able to use sold information to help their clients make wise and informed purchases. If a buyer has an interest in a particular home, his or her buyer’s agent can review what other homes have been selling for in the area to determine what a reasonable offer price would be.