An Internet Data Exchange (IDX) is a real estate property
search site which allows the public to conduct searches of
approved Multiple Listing Service properties in a certain
area.
Site users generally gain the benefit of anonymous property
searching and review. IDX sites usually provide less detailed
information than the full Realtor Multiple Listing Service,
limiting the data to that which is deemed publicly accessible.
The benefit to realtors is that users of their IDX web site
can search freely, establish some confidence, and qualify
themselves before contacting the realtor.
Certain rules apply to the real estate companies' ability
to display each detail about a property. These "display
rules" are set by the Multiple Listing Service organization,
which generally forms its policy around the recommendations
of the National Association of Realtors.
IDX policy is nearing its replacement by a new Internet Listing
Display policy being formed by the National Association of
Realtors.
A common and standard data exchange protocol for IDX information
is the Real Estate Transaction Specification or RETS.