Did you know there are two different websites run by the Toronto Real Estate Board?
One is www.mls.ca, which is the public website for consumers to access in search of house and condo listings; the other is www.torontomls.net, which is for Registered Real Estate Salespersons to use on a daily basis, and provide listings to their clients.
There is an enormous difference between not only the interface and layout of a given listing, but also the quantity, accuracy, and relevance of the information provided.
Shown below is the same listing for 993 Queen Street, #105 (The Candy Factory Lofts).
On the left is the listing displayed through www.torontomls.net. On the right is the listing displayed through www.mls.ca. Which listing would YOU rather view? (Click to enlarge)
Here are a few other things to consider:
www.mls.ca is updated by the Toronto Real Estate Board, whereas www.torontomls.net is updated by the individual administrators at all the various brokerages across Toronto. There are hundreds upon hundreds of people updating www.torontomls.net on a daily or even hourly basis, whereas there are only a couple of people at the TREB updating www.mls.ca.
This means the information on www.mls.ca is not always delivered in a timely manner.
If a listing goes into the www.torontomls.net system on a Monday morning, it may take DAYS for the same listing to appear on www.mls.ca.
In the fast-paced market we are currently in, the listing may have sold by then!
It may take even longer for PHOTOS to appear on the www.mls.ca listing.
It is not uncommon for a listing that has SOLD to continue to appear on www.mls.ca as FOR SALE. Why waste your time with something that has already sold?
www.torontomls.net provides information on what the MAINTENANCE FEES for condos include, ie. Heat, Hydo, Water, Central Air Conditioning, Parking, Building Insurance, Common Elements, etc.
www.mls.ca only shows the cost of the monthly fees.
www.torontomls.net provides information on PARKING, and whether there is an owned or rented spot, where it is (ie. underground, surface, garage), and how much it costs.
www.mls.net does not mention parking at all. With a parking space in downtown Toronto valued at $25,000 on average, isn’t this important information?
www.torontomls.net provides information on the square footage of the house/unit, the age of the home or building, and the view (South, North) for a condo or frontage for a house.
www.torontomls.net provides the desired possession date of the owner (30 days, July 17th 2007, etc) as well as whether the property is currently vacant, owner occupied, or tenanted.
Shall I go on? I think we get the point…
Simply put, www.mls.ca provides very little information, and the prospective home-buyer needs to get in touch with a Realtor to get MORE information on a property and the NECESSARY information in order to make an informed decision.
Why waste a step?
You can always email me here if you would like the www.torontomls.net version of a listing that you see on www.mls.ca
