Metropolitan Regional Information Systems
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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- For a general discussion of Realtors' MLS systems and their function, see Multiple Listing Service
The Metropolitan Regional Information Systems, Inc. (known as MRIS) is the largest Multiple Listing Service in the United States. As of late February 2007, it serves over 59,300 [1] real estate professionals in Baltimore-Washington Metropolitan Area including Maryland, Washington DC, Northern Virginia, and parts of West Virginia and Pennsylvania.
Currently this is the largest MLS in North America, and it has evolved from a county-based system controlled by individual Assocations of Realtors operating as members of and under the rules of the National Association of Realtors. By the early 1990s it became apparent that a sophisticated computer-based system was necessary to integrate the MLS systems of the many counties and jurisdictions in the tri-state areas (or, at least, tri-jurisdictions) of Maryland, Washington, DC and Virginia, most of which were in close proximity to the capital.
Originally, many county Associations offered dumb-terminal access to the MLS only in brokers' offices at speeds such as 300 baud and, eventually by the late 1980s, at 1,200 baud. After being founded in 1992, MRIS operated as a computer-based program on the Windows 3.1 operating system, with proprietary software issued by MRIS. (This was not unlike the plethora of internet access companies, each with its own software, which emerged at that time). Since updates required a new software release via floppy disc to be installed by all subscribers, changes came slowly.
It was only when MRIS decided to become an internet-based system with access available to all brokers/agents via the internet from any computer anywhere, that the present system was created.
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[edit] Database systems offered by MRIS
MRIS operates two parallel systems available only to licenced brokers, agents, and others (such as appraisers): "MATRIX" which is the database of property listings in all classes (including residentail to raw land and lots) and categories from "Active" through "Sold" going back over more than ten years; and "KEYSTONE" the data entry site for agents to input new listings and update them.
On a daily basis, portions of the data from the full MRIS database of real estate listings is uploaded to public-access websites such as http://Realtor.com (with over 1 million listings nationwide) or to MRIS' own public-access site, http://homesdatabase.com, with the majority of the organizations Washington DC area properties.
[edit] Member organizations
The following range of county and local associations, which have become members of MRIS (as direct Shareholders), reflects the great range of individual Realtor member organizations in the Washington, DC metropolitan area. Originally, brokers and agents doing business in many different jurisdictions would have been required to obtain membership in several different MLS systems.
When joining an individual Assocation of Realtors and becomming affiliated with NAR at the same time, individual brokers and agents have the option of joining MRIS. However, it would be difficult to conduct business without having access to the MLS system. Individual membership fees are $660 per year paid quarterly.[2]
- Anne Arundel County Association of REALTORS® (AACAR) [1] Anne Arundel County, Maryland
- Bay Area Association of REALTORS® (BAAR)[2] Kent, Queen Anne and Caroline County, Maryland
- Blue Ridge Association of REALTORS® (BRAR)[3] Clarke, Frederick, and Warren County plus the City of Winchester, Virginia
- Carroll County Association of REALTORS® (CCAR) [4] Carroll County, Maryland
- Cecil County Board of REALTORS® (CCBOR) [5]
- Dulles Area Association of REALTORS® (DAAR) [6] Loudoun County, Virginia
- Eastern Panhandle Board of REALTORS® (EPBR)[7] Berkeley, Jefferson and Morgan County, West Virginia
- Frederick County Association of REALTORS® (FCAR) [8] Frederick County, Maryland
- Fredericksburg Area Association of REALTORS® (FAAR) [9] Stafford, Spottsylvania, Fredericksburg City and Caroline County, Virginia
- Garrett County Board of REALTORS® (GCBR)[10] Garrett County, Maryland
- Greater Baltimore Board of REALTORS® (GBBR)[11] Baltimore City and Baltimore County, Maryland
- Greater Capital Area Association of REALTORS® (GCAAR) [12] Montgomery County, Maryland and Washington, DC
- Greater Piedmont Area Association of REALTORS® (GPAAR)[13] Fauquier and Rappahannock County, Virginia
- Harford County Association of REALTORS® (HCAF)[14] Harford County, Maryland
- Howard County Association of REALTORS® (HCAR)[15]
- Historic Highlands Association of REALTORS® (HHAR)[16] Allegany County, Maryland
- Massanutten Association of REALTORS® (MBR) [17] Page and Shenandoah County, Virginia
- Mid-Shore Board of REALTORS® (MSBR) [18] Talbot and Dorchester County, Maryland
- Northern Virginia Association of REALTORS® (NVAR) [19] Fairfax, Arlington, Fairfax City, Alexandria, Virginia
- Prince George's Association of REALTORS® (PGAR)[20] Prince George's County, Maryland
- Pen-Mar Regional Association of REALTORS® (PMRAR)[21] Washington County, Maryland and Franklin County, Pennsylvania
- Prince William Association of REALTORS® (PWAR)[22] Prince William County, Virginia
- Potomac Highlands Board of REALTORS® (PHBR) Mineral, Grant, Hampshire and Hardy Counties
- Southern Maryland Association of REALTORS® (SMAR) [23] Charles, Calvert and St. Mary’s County, Maryland
- Washington DC Association of REALTORS® (WDCAR) All Washington DC Sites
In addition, the several State Associations are members.[3]
[edit] References
- ^ Membership and other statistics
- ^ Membership fees
- ^ Shareholder Associations who are members of MRIS
[edit] See also
- National Association of Realtors's for policies on MLS systems
- Multiple Listing Services for details on other MLS systems
- Flat-fee MLS for an alternative new MLS system
- Real Estate Trends for importantance of MLS in Future
