Real Estate Ph: (617) 247-1933 581 Boylston Street, Boston MA 02116

Free Boston Massachusetts MLS Access

Our website allows free access to search the MA MLS, operatied by the Multiple Listing Service Property Information Network (MLSPIN). Click on the magnifying glass above to search for properties for free, and call us with any questions anytime from 9am to 11pm 7 Days a week! We are a full-service real estate brokerage located in the heart of Copley Square in Downtown Boston. You can also have this Multiple Listing Service system send you alerts on new properties that meet your criteria the day they hit the market. The email will come in the form of a nightly email recapping the daily properties. Our agents are extremely well trained and on call 7 days a week to answer any questions and show you the properties! Make sure to E-mail us or call us anytime with any questions!

If you’ve ever bought or sold a home, you probably already know at least a little about the database. However, as is the case with most buyers and sellers, odds are that you don’t exactly understand how it works or even how it’s relevant to you. Any time that you need accurate information about real estate for sale, it is in your best interest to consult dependable sources. When seeking real estate in Massachusetts—whether a single-family home to buy, a multi-family property to invest in or a condo or apartment to rent—stick to the trusted online source of listings: Boston City Properties.

Whether you’re facing a competitive or more relaxed market, the ease with which you locate what you need hinges on the accuracy and timeliness of the information that you use. While the internet has put a lot of power in buyers’ hands, it also often makes it incredibly difficult to sort accurate listings from outdated, inaccurate or even obsolete ones. As a result, you may find yourself “barking up the wrong tree” again and again. Avoid this by relying on accurate sources.

As you probably already know, Massachusetts real estate markets are often very competitive. That is particularly true about anything that is even remotely located in Greater Boston, but it applies to many other areas of the state too. Therefore, it is even more crucial to arm yourself with only the most accurate information. When it comes to listings for MA properties, you can’t beat Boston City Properties. We maintain one of the largest online databases of MA real estate listings around, and it is populated by reputable and reliable sources. No matter what you’re searching for, you’ll find it much faster by connecting with us.

Home buyers, sellers and renters often think that they know what the database is. In their minds, it is some kind of network of listings that magically materializes and can often be accessed via the internet. Few people think much more deeply about it than that, and that is a shame. By understanding what the network is all about, buyers are less likely to waste their time with sketchy or unreliable sources of real estate data. In turn, they generally find what they’re looking for more quickly and efficiently.

Put simply, the primary purpose of the database is to provide structured, accurate information about local properties for sale. We say “local properties” because it is not a single, universal entity. Rather, it is the overarching term that’s used to encompass literally hundreds of small, local network databases. Here’s the rub: When seeking information about properties for sale online, you may stumble upon a database that only relies on a few MLS sources. As a result, you may miss out on properties that meet your criteria. This is why it’s so important to turn to a trusted source, and Boston City Properties fills the bill.

Since there’s not a single multiple listing service but hundreds of them, how do these databases get organized in the first place? Across the United States, there are more than 1,400 local real estate associations or boards that serve local real estate markets. These associations and boards also govern local practices, including rules that apply to the listings that appear in those databases. In turn, these local associations and boards are governed by state- and territory-level associations. Across the country, there are 54 of these. In this way, smaller databases may be shared in a variety of ways—and much of this has to do with this nationwide network.

How does this apply to someone like you who is seeking to buy or rent real estate somewhere in Massachusetts? Well, you want to be sure to rely on a database that pulls its data from reliable sources. Boston City Properties’ database works like this, and much of the data within it comes from MLS PIN. Organized in 1997, this MLS is the largest in New England and one of the largest in the country. More than 35,000 real estate professionals participate, sharing their clients’ listings for properties across the state. Without question, Boston City Properties is the optimal source for accurate MA real estate information.

When you think about it, the premise behind the tool is pretty altruistic. It revolves around and depends upon a spirit of cooperation between real estate brokers who are in many ways competing with each other. However, the system only works if everyone who is involved shares new listings as they are acquired—and if they agree to adhere to specific guidelines regarding those listings. In this way, MLS listings are exceptionally accurate and timely.

If there isn’t a single, universal database, how can you be certain that you are receiving all of the listings for a specified geographical area? Again, for this to happen, you must locate a source that pulls from local listings for your specified search area. Across the United States, there are at least 800 MLSs in operation today. Thankfully, however, you don’t have to sort through them yourself to figure out which ones will make your search easier. Instead, if you are seeking info about MA real estate, just connect with Boston City Properties. You’ll have easy, free, unlimited access to the timeliest and most accurate Massachusetts listings.

If all that you need to do to access accurate listings is to connect with Boston City Properties, doesn’t that mean that you have access to the exact same information as real estate professionals? Not quite. Licensed professionals have access to a fully uncensored program that includes details that cannot safely be shared with the general public. These details may include the times during the week when a property is vacant for showings or detailed contact information for the sellers—which they would probably rather not have out in the open. These details aren’t pertinent to your search anyway, so you aren’t missing out on anything important.

A Brief History

The MLS has been around seemingly forever, and it is easy to take it for granted. However, there was a time when confusion reigned in the world of real estate. Starting around the late 1800s, however, people started wising up. This is approximately when real estate professionals starting gathering in local associations to help each other out. At regular gatherings, participating brokers would share information about properties that they were trying to sell. If another broker knew of a suitable potential buyer for another broker, they would then give them the lead. In exchange, the broker who provided the referral would be paid a modest commission.

In this way, the first multiple listing database was born. Unlike what many people assume, it is traditionally is not something that exists on computers. In the old days, it was all about human interaction. While this concept has been moved to the digital realm for the most part, brokers and agents continue to maintain this spirit of cooperation. Not surprisingly, however, the advent of the internet has switched things up quite a bit.

While real estate professionals continue to keep in touch with one another to provide leads and potential buyers, the listings that they share are no longer so exclusive. They are often pulled onto other online databases and made widely available to the public at large. The good news for buyers like you is that you no longer have to blindly listen to what an agent tells you. Instead, you can kick-start your search for your new home yourself by checking current availability through it. If you’re looking anywhere in Massachusetts, your best source for accurate information and listings is Boston City Properties.

Top Benefits

If someone were to ask you to name some advantages of the tool, you would probably come up with one quickly right off the top of your head: It is a convenient way to access accurate information about properties listed for sale in a specific real estate market. Without question, that is the service’s top advantage for buyers and renters. What is it about it that makes it so trustworthy—and why has it been relied on by real estate professionals for more than 100 years? By understanding how it is compiled and maintained, it’s much easier to answer these questions.

A quick breakdown of the top advantages include:

The vast majority of local real estate associations and boards, the entities that establish and maintain local networks — go into great detail regarding deadlines by which listings must appear in their databases. Participating brokers are required to add listings to the system within a specified period of receiving them. Most of the time, this period is anywhere from 24 to 48 hours within the signing of the listing agreement. It is frowned upon for agents to withhold listings; in fact, they may even be fined for doing so. Therefore, by relying on sources while buying a home, you can rest assured that the information that you get is as timely as it gets.

While guidelines for local databases may vary from market to market, most of them go into minute detail about the kinds of details that must be included in listings that appear in the database. It is reasonable, for instance, for all listings to include the precise location of the property in the form of its physical address. Listings should also include information about the size of the home; whether it has one story or more; the year in which the home was built; and other pieces of basic and very crucial information. Before a listing can appear in the MLS, it must be checked over to ensure that it meets the requirements.

In addition to including certain pieces of must-have information, the guidelines are typically adamant about the accuracy of the information that appears. This is to say that agents may not just estimate how large a home is; they must consult a reliable source and provide a specific figure. Similarly, information about everything from the age of the structure to the size of the acreage should be as accurate as possible. No one wins when inaccurate information is provided, and most real estate professionals work hard to ensure that the information in their listings is accurate and adheres to the standards.

Most guidelines stipulate that photographs must be included in listings. Many go even further and get specific about the number of photos that should be included or even the types of photos that should appear. For example, for single-family homes, MLS guidelines may require the following photos to appear at least once: the front yard of the home; the backyard of the home; every room in the home; close-up photos of important elements like fireplaces and kitchen fixtures; and many more. You aren’t likely to find a system that requires virtual tours, but many encourage agents to include them.

Listings for Single-Family Homes and More

There is a lot of misinformation out there about the database. As mentioned at the start of this article, most people aren’t clear on what it is in the first place, so this isn’t very surprising. One very common misconception is that it is only includes listings for single-family homes for sale. However, the system is much more eclectic than that. In fact, it not only isn’t limited to a single property type, but it isn’t limited to properties for sale, either. Indeed, listings for rental properties are included in most local searches, so the service is remarkably useful across a wide range of scenarios.

Some of the ways in which you can use the took to search for different property types—including while searching Boston City Properties’ MA listings—include:

Single-family homes – While the tool isn’t exclusively made up of listings for single-family homes, it is undeniably dominated by them. In any given local market, you are sure to find more listings for this property type than for any other. Of course, there are exceptions, and the city of Boston is a prime example. In most Boston neighborhoods, multi-family properties are far more common.

In addition to including listings for single-family homes for sale in a certain market, the search tool includes listings for homes that are available for rent. When it comes to finding rental properties in markets across Massachusetts, it is one of the best sources to consult. Unfortunately, renters often believe that they must pay a rental broker to find what they need and rely blindly on one. A much better option is to start by searching Boston City Properties’ MLS listings for rental properties in your desired search area. If you find a suitable property, we can refer you to an agent who can help from there.

Condos – Searching for a condo to buy is a lot different than searching for a detached single-family home to buy. For one thing, in addition to the sale price of the condo, you typically must consider condo dues and the like. It is easy to assume that searching for condos in a specific real estate market will be a tall order, but it streamlines it considerably. These databases distinguish between different types of properties, so you can search for condos exclusively. This capability is available in our searchable listings, and we’ll give you access right now for free.

Condos make up only a small percentage of most local real estate markets, so the pickings are often slim when looking to purchase one. If you need to rent one, availability will be more limited still—unless you are looking in Boston. In urban areas, condos often go up for rent on the market—and they tend to get snapped up quickly. If you want to rent a condo somewhere in Massachusetts, you can rely on our free listings to locate exactly what you need—and you can breathe easy in the knowledge that you’re getting info from trusted sources.

Apartments – People looking for apartments typically assume that they must rely on for-profit apartment hunting websites and the like to locate what they need. They don’t often realize that the same databases that provide accurate information regarding single-family homes for sale also often provide up-to-the-second info regarding current availability for apartments in specific markets. While most people rent apartments, city dwellers often seek to purchase them to keep costs in check. Either way, when you connect with Boston City Properties, you can find apartments for sale and for rent in no time flat.

Listings for apartments in the system must adhere to many of the same guidelines that are imposed for single-family homes for sale and the like. In this way, you can really dig deeply and gain an accurate picture of what an apartment is like through the computer. Property managers update real estate professionals when units are claimed, and listings are removed promptly. By the same token, when a unit becomes available in most markets, it must be listed within a certain period of time. Whether you need to rent or buy an apartment, then, searching our database is your best option.

Multi-family properties – What if you are an investor looking to purchase a multi-family property to expand your portfolio? Contrary to what you might assume, you can rely on the site for accurate information in this sphere too. Indeed, since our database is populated almost exclusively by MLS sources, it includes up-to-the-second listings for multi-family properties for sale across the state of Massachusetts. You can use the same powerful search tool to zero in on suitable options, so you can find promising properties in the blink of an eye. Stepping up your investing game is a snap with Boston City Properties.

Commercial real estate – It also includes listings for commercial properties for sale and for rent. If you’re an investor looking to scoop up a commercial building for rental income, then, Boston City Properties’ listings should come very much in handy. Likewise, if you are a business owner searching for suitable space for your business, you can search our listings for retail space, office space and any other type of commercial space imaginable across the state. Using the same powerful search tool, you will be able to pinpoint suitable options in no time.

Access in Massachusetts

If information from the sites can usually be accessed through the internet, you would think that it would be easy to zero in on sources for properties for sale and for rent in Massachusetts. However, the internet has actually complicated matters in many ways. Unfortunately, it’s all too easy to end up on a site that promises to provide accurate information for a specific market only to get a tiny fraction of what is really available. Therefore, when seeking property info in Massachusetts, it is crucial to obtain it from a trusted and proven source—and Boston City Properties is it.

The largest source for the state of Massachusetts, the MLS PIN, is the most comprehensive source for information about properties for sale and for rent across the state. Boston City Properties’ database is almost entirely populated with data from this trusted source. We also pull data from other trusted MLS sources to ensure that you receive every last piece of information possible. It is easy to duped into thinking that you are getting the big picture, but you never have to worry about that when dealing with us—and we are always here to help.

How Boston City Properties Can Help

By this point, we have clearly established that the property database is the most crucial source of information for real estate across the United States. We’ve also demonstrated how you can search for properties of all kinds in databases, including properties for sale and for rent. When seeking information about real estate in Massachusetts specifically, there are lots of options. To ensure that the information that you receive is truly as comprehensive as possible, it pays to sign up to search Boston City Properties’ listings—and the help doesn’t stop there!

Some of the ways in which Boston City Properties can assist you with finding real estate in Massachusetts include:

Don’t sell yourself short when searching for real estate in Massachusetts. Whether you want to buy a single-family home, condo or other property or if you need to rent a place, make sure that you’re relying on accurate, timely information from square one. The listings are the way to go most of the time, but accessing the right ones—and being able to search them effectively—is often easier said than done. By signing up with Boston City Properties, you will set the stage for what is sure to be a productive and effective search. Don’t wait another minute. Kick-start your search for your new home or investment property now, and contact us if you have any questions!

Click Here
to Search

sales

Click Here
to Search

rentals