Grant of License
Specify the limited license scope for display, search, and lead capture; clarify whether resale or scraping is prohibited.
A precise IDX Transaction Agreement reduces disputes over data use, protects MLS and brokerage intellectual property, and sets technical and security standards for feeds and derivative displays.
The agreement is used by organizations that publish, consume, or resell MLS listing data through IDX feeds or portals.
Assign administrative responsibility for feed management and compliance to a named role (for example, MLS Data Admin or Brokerage IT Lead).
An MLS Administrator or Director of Data Operations generally executes or accepts the IDX Transaction Agreement on behalf of the MLS. They ensure feed delivery, map field-level data, monitor compliance with MLS display rules, and coordinate technical onboarding with consumer-facing portals and vendor partners.
A brokerage owner or CTO signs for the licensee side. Their responsibilities include approving permitted uses, ensuring agent-level consent for listing display, configuring feed endpoints, implementing security controls, and overseeing termination or suspension when rules are breached.
| Field | Configuration |
|---|---|
| Authentication | API key or OAuth; document token rotation policy |
| Update Frequency | Delta or full sync cadence (e.g., 15 minutes, hourly) |
| Error Handling | Retries, alerting channels, and failover procedures |
| Data Mapping | Explicit field map to MLS schema; include fallbacks for missing fields |
Specify the limited license scope for display, search, and lead capture; clarify whether resale or scraping is prohibited.
Require encryption in transit, access controls, incident notification timelines, and periodic security reviews by authorized personnel.
Mandate MLS and broker attribution on all listing displays and linkback requirements where applicable.
Assign responsibility for feed timeliness, correction procedures, and reconciliation of listing status changes.
Define contract length, auto-renewal rules, and notice periods for suspension or termination of the feed.
Allocate liability for misuse, data breaches, and third-party claims; include caps and insurance obligations where appropriate.
| Criteria | IDX Agreement | Listing Agreement | Data License |
|---|---|---|---|
| Primary purpose | feed licensing | property sale terms | bulk data resale |
| Parties | mls/broker | seller/broker | data provider/buyer |
| Display controls | limited | extensive | |
| Typical term length | 1–3 years | transaction-based | multi-year |
| signNow | DocuSign | Adobe Sign | PandaDoc | HelloSign | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | $8/user/mo | $15/user/mo | $14/user/mo | $19/user/mo | $15/user/mo |
| Free Trial | 7-day free trial | Varies | Varies | Varies | Varies |
| Bulk Send | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Audit Trail | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| HIPAA Compliant | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Envelope Cap | No envelope cap | 100 env/user/yr | Varies | Varies | Varies |
Agreement terms finalized and signed by authorized representatives
Credentials provided, mapping completed, and test feeds validated
MLS reviews display mockups and confirms rule alignment
Feed switched to live; monitoring and SLA metrics begin
Date contract obligations commence
7–30 days for mapping and validation
30–90 days written notice commonly required
30–60 days before term expiration for renewal negotiation
48–72 hours for security breach notification
Confirm authorized signatory names and titles before sending for signature
Provide any ESIGN consumer disclosures if the agreement is consumer-facing
Choose email link, SMS code, or stronger multi-factor authentication
Signers review and execute designated signature blocks
Determine if state law or MLS rules require notarization
Arrange remote online notarization if permitted by the state
Retain audio-video recording per RON rules when used
Provide all parties with signed PDF and audit trail
Martin Properties needed remote execution and compliance for multiple team sites.
A venture-backed brokerage centralized feed permissions to reduce variance across sites.