Wisconsin MLS Listing - Public/REALTOR Wisconsin MLS Listings

This Multiple Listing Service, or the MLS as it is also referred to as - is the way that agents share properties for sale with each other. They offer agents with buyers (buyers agents) a cooperating commission typically about half of the 5-6%. This offer of cooperating commission if binding - thus ensuring that the agent bringing the buyer gets his fair compensation. When you try to sell the property by owner and offer a buyer agent a 2.%% commission - there is no binding nature to the offer of commission. Once the property is listed on the MLS the buyers agent is sure that they will get compensated.

 REALTORS typically charge 5%-6% for marketing your property - including a MLS listing. They typically co-operate half of that commission to the agents represeting the buyer.

 The MLS itself is essentially a private database accessible  ONLY by the member REALTORS.  The date on the MLS listing is actually a property of the agent who lists it (MLS Listing Agent). The public has no access to the official MLS System and cannot see the official version of the MLS listings.  However, many MLS Associations have Public Web Sites where the public can view parts of the information contained in the official MLS listing. But only the member agents can view ALL the information in the mls listings, the public only gets to view the limited information which the particular MLS decides to display to them. 

None of the Public MLS Listing webistes allow the owners name or contact information to be displayed to the public  - since they do NOT want buyers calling owners directly.  They want buyers calling their member Realtors. Likewise, in addition to deciding what information is displayed to the public, the MLS also decides IF they want to display any information about their listings to the public and which listings to show information about.  Many MLS associations do NOT operate a public website at all, but the member realtors in those areas STILL have access to the listings using their private computer network, there is just not a public website to display their mls listings or it might go to Realtor.com.