MLS Rules & Compliance

As the authoritative source for all central Indiana real estate information, our MLS Rules and Regulations help maintain our position as the market’s most complete, accurate, and up-to-date listing information service. These rules set the foundation for an orderly marketplace where competitors cooperate and facilitate real estate transactions.

MLS Compliance Changes

RACI/IRMLS has undergone a shift in the education and compliance of IRMLS Rules and Regulations. We have revamped our compliance plan to focus on the education of our rules, support of our subscribers, and correction of MLS data. When the data is clean, you’re able to efficiently conduct your business.

RACI/IRMLS will foster MLS compliance through a renewed focus using education, collaboration, and peer-to-peer accountability. Participants and subscribers can alert RACI MLS staff of a potential violation by email: info@raci.org, Paragon Correction button on a listing, or directly through ListingDIV dashboard by using ‘Report a Listing Error.’ If you receive a violation notice you can contact RACI MLS staff by email: info@raci.org, or directly through ListingDIV using respond to notice.

New MLS Rules Categories & Escalation Process

IRMLS Rules and Regulations align with new recent NAR MLS policy requirement updates with each of the rules falling into one of three categories:

  • Category 1: Relating to any listing information provided by a participant or subscriber
  • Category 2: Relating to any IDX and VOW display rules
  • Category 3: Relating to cooperation with a fellow participant or subscriber, listing copyright violations, misuse of MLS data/tools, unauthorized MLS access, and mandatory submission of listings to the service

All three of these categories begin with education first and proceed into escalating sanctions upon multiple violations. In most cases, we’ve found that MLS rules violations are not intentional and require a simple check-in from RACI MLS staff to explain the rule, the correction needed, and how to avoid a violation in the future. However, repeatedly ignoring MLS rules will not be tolerated. Repeated violation of an MLS rule will be met with escalating sanctions, including fines and/or mandatory hearings or education.

For example, a repeated violation of the same Category 1 rule would escalate from courtesy education-focused notices to an official letter of warning, and eventually to a fine or required workshop. For Category 2 and Category 3 rules, the escalation path moves more quickly to fines and mandatory hearings due to the severity of violations in these categories.

How are Violations Reported & Monitored for Compliance

Automated Notices: IRMLS has dozens of business rules tied into ListingDIV (Data Integrity Validator) which will trigger an automated notice that requires action by the listing agent to ensure the listing is in compliance. You can help maintain the integrity of your MLS by being attentive to notices sent from listingdiv@listingdiv.com and reviewing how you can prevent violations in the future.

Peer Reporting of a Violation: The MLS also allows you to manually report possible data violations to RACI MLS staff for further review. To report a violation, please send a detailed email to info@raci.org or use the Correction button in Paragon so an MLS team member can review the listing in question and respond accordingly.

Peer Reporting of a Correction: The MLS also allows you to manually report data corrections directly to the listing agent and RACI MLS staff for further review. To suggest a correction to a listing through the ListingDIV dashboard use ‘Report a Listing Error’ or in Paragon click on to log into ListingDIV. Please provide a detailed correction suggestion so the list agent & RACI MLS staff can review the listing in question and respond accordingly.

Every day you help us build a better, more orderly marketplace. It’s our commitment to listen, learn, and work with brokers and agents to improve the overall data quality and user experience of our MLS. When the MLS has clean, comprehensive data, your clients benefit, which is why we’re also asking for your help when it comes to maintaining adherence to IRMLS Rules & Regs and the NAR Clear Cooperation Policy.

Category 1

Relating to any listing information provided by a participant or subscriber.

This includes any field within the listing that can be accessed to add or edit.

Category 2

Relating to any IDX and VOW display rules. IRMLS staff identifies criteria for accountability and compliance.

Category 3

Relating to cooperation with a fellow participant or subscriber, listing copyright violations, misuse of MLS data/tools, unauthorized MLS access, and mandatory submission of listings to the service.