MLS

The Sarasota MLS features nearly every type of real estate imaginable, from modest single-family homes near Sarasota Bay to secluded golf retreats in Siesta Key to luxurious gulf front condominiums in Longboat Key. But such variety can make finding the right home a challenge. That is why many homebuyers use a Multiple Listing Service (MLS) when searching for a home in Sarasota. The Sarasota MLS, Longboat Key MLS and Siesta Key MLS can each assist in your new home search

What is an MLS?
An MLS is an online database that contains property listings from all the real estate agents in a given area. There are more than 900 MLSs in operation in the United States, providing homebuyers detailed information about homes for sale in every community, including Sarasota, Longboat Key and Siesta Key.

How Do I Use an MLS?
Most MLSs can be accessed from real estate agent Web sites and are extremely easy to use. You simply enter information about what type of home you are interested in, and the MLS displays all the listings that fit your preferences. You can search by location and size. You can search by property type, such as single-family home, condominium or townhome. You can even search by price – simply select a range of prices (such as $200,000-299,000) and the MLS will display only homes in that price range.

The more refined your search, the better the results will be. For example, a search on the Siesta Key MLS for a “single-family house” may yield more than 600 listings. A more refined search – like “gulf front condominiums in Longboat Key for $900,000” – yields only 39 listings. Using more refined searches prevents you from having to scroll through hundreds of superfluous listings to find the home that best suits your taste and budget.

The Benefits of Using an MLS
The best part of using an MLS is that you can begin your home search without leaving your living room. The listings on an MLS are fairly detailed and most MLSs provide several photographs of the properties for sale. Several of the listings on the Sarasota MLS include virtual tours, where you can watch as the listing agent walks you through the home and explains its features. The Longboat Key MLS and the Siesta Key MLS also feature listings with virtual tour options.