Realtracs may suspend Zillow listing feed on June 1 over IDX rules

All platforms receiving Realtracs’ data feed were notified of a rule change effective May 13, with compliance required by May 31. As of Wednesday, Zillow was the only platform not in compliance with agreement terms. Realtracs expects the situation to continue, citing Zillow’s listing access standards that restrict sellers’ marketing choices and have led to dozens of banned Realtracs listings. The MLS states that if Zillow does not comply, Realtracs will suspend Zillow’s access to the MLS data feed on June 1, which may disrupt some brokers, agents, and sellers. Brokers can still send listings directly to Zillow using Broker Only Export via MLS GRID. Distribution to Homes.com, Redfin, Realtor.com, and Realtracs remains unchanged, and Realtracs emphasizes broker and seller choice and market transparency consistent with IDX display rules.

"All platforms that receive Realtracs’ data feed were notified of the rule change, which went into effect on May 13, with compliance with the rule required by May 31. The email then goes on to state that as of Wednesday, Zillow was the only platform to not be in compliance with the agreement terms. We do not expect that to change, given Zillow's own rule [listing access standards] that prevents sellers from choosing how their properties are marketed and has resulted in dozens of banned Realtracs listings, the email states."

"According to the MLS, if Zillow does not comply with the terms of the agreement, Realtracs will suspend Zillow's access to the MLS's data feed on June 1. We understand this may create disruption for some brokers, agents, and sellers, the email states. If a seller specifically wants their property displayed on Zillow, brokers can still make that happen. The Broker Only Export, via [MLS] GRID, allows brokers to send listings directly to Zillow outside of the Realtracs data feed."

"Additionally, Realtracs notes that listing distribution via Homes.com, Redfin, Realtor.com and Realtracs, as well as other compliant sites will remain unchanged. The MLS said it is taking this position because it believes that no entity outside of the relationship between a seller and their listing broker should be able to determine the seller's go-to market strategy. Realtracs remains committed to protecting broker and seller choice and supporting market transparency consistent with the IDX display rules, the email concludes."

"We will share additional information about the status of Zillow's non-compliance on June 1. In the meantime, we encourage you to contact Zillow and demand it remove the display ban. In an emailed statement, a Realtracs spokesperson told HousingWire that the MLS hopes that Zillow will comply with our display rules by the May 31st deadline."

Read at www.housingwire.com