By: Jeremy Crawford, Executive Director, RESO
The RESO Board of Directors approved RESO Web API certification for all RESO members who are current on their Data Dictionary certification at no additional cost. The original Web API push was fostered by policy from the National Association of REALTORS®. As an effort to drive opportunities for innovation and efficiencies in transmitting listing information, NAR requires that MLSs have the RESO Web API in place by June 30, 2016.
The NAR mandate for the Web API states: “…MLS organizations owned and operated by associations of REALTORS® are required to implement the Real Estate Standards Organization (RESO) standards, including the RESO Web API, by June 30, 2016.”
About the Web API
The Web API certification process should be a breeze. For MLSs, it is simply a way to transfer data that can eliminate the need to copy listing information between different servers. It is also the best way for an MLS to be the original and only source of MLS property data. The API makes everyone’s life simpler because it reduces the amount of time it takes for software developers to connect to, retrieve and organize listing data within a website, web application or another tool.
The Web API technology will deliver efficiencies in the collection and use of MLS data by participants, technology partners and MLSs.
Benefits of the Web API
The RESO Web API will translate into three big wins for the industry, including speedier development with more robust features, a faster path to listing data deployment, and simplification, as the Web API means eliminating the need to have multiple software solutions for multiple markets. Other benefits include:
- Provides MLS participants/subscribers with improved MLS data access including faster updates/results, increased security, and ease of use in displaying property information.
- The RESO Data Dictionary standardizes all available data fields for software programing and eliminates the need to “map” local MLS data. This will not preclude MLSs from using local terminology for naming data fields.
- Standardized data fields enable technology partners and programmers to develop tools, applications and other resources available from MLSs to MLS participants/subscribers without the challenges associated with locally implemented data definitions.
- Less expensive for brokers and MLSs to reformat and use MLS data with a more mobile-centric focus.
- Improved accuracy of MLS data with no degradation of information.
- Gives MLSs and MLS participants/subscribers the same technology already being used by outside competitors, syndicators and aggregators.
- Plug and play for listing display.
Making the Deadline
Last fall, when we were just two months away from the NAR-mandated deadline for the RESO Data Dictionary, we only had a handful of MLSs certified for the Data Dictionary. Yet, with the Herculean efforts of our industry’s MLS leaders and MLS technology partners, we certified hundreds of MLSs in the home stretch. Each of your MLS technology partners has been outstanding at supporting the RESO certification effort. They stand at the ready again to help you make the next deadline.
