Clarification please!

[Heather Travar]

Sorry for this very elementary question, but I've done a lot of research and I'm still not sure of all the answers I need.

Does Variman have access to most MLSs? I'm confused on this point because the local MLS will provide access to their RETS server for a huge fee. Obviously, this won't work for me as a student developer. But if I can get Variman for free and it provides me the same data my local MLS would, then why in the world would anyone ever pay their huge fee? If Variman does provide the same data, how do I find out if it accesses my local MLS? Or am I completely misunderstanding what Variman does?

Again, I know this is an elementary question, but I'd appreciate some basic insight.

[Keith T. Garner]

Variman is a RETS server.  It is something an MLS would use to provide a RETS feed.  Variman itself has no data.

To make an analogy:  Variman is to RETS as Apache is to HTTP.

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[Heather Travar]

Thanks for your help!

Heather 

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[Rob Overman]

Heather,

I am afraid you are misunderstanding what Variman does.

Think of each MLS system as it's own database repository. Each MLS could be built using a different database system. For example Microsoft SQL Server, Oracle or MySQL. To get data out of these systems you need a user account and a piece of client software.

Think of Variman as nothing more than client software. It connects to the backend database system and allows a user to write queries, submit them and get back results. Variman is server software that provides a RETS enabled interface to the data stored in the database. Without an existing database of listing data on which to run, Variman can do nothing.

There is no giant repository of real estate listing data that you may access freely. The listing data is the property of the real estate brokers and/or MLS provider. As such, you must enter into a data licensing agreement with each local MLS for which you need to get data. Many of these MLS providers charge fees for the support and use of the listing data. 

Once you have such an agreement and are provided connection information, you will need to use a client application that can communicate with the MLS' RETS server. A library like libRETS can be used if you are writing your own software. A tool like RETS Connector can run as a desktop app or service to build and run queries.

Please visit www.reso.org for links to some freely available resources.

Good luck!

Rob

Rob Overman
http://twitter.com/roverman

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[Heather Travar]

That helps tremendously.