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Welcome to the REALTORS Association of Maui MLS Data Licensing info page. This is the resource page for RAM REALTORS to learn more about getting the MLS data on your website, or for other types of applications to support your brokerage and real estate needs.

If you are a developer, webmaster, or RAM member interested in obtaining a data license please jump down to the For Vendors section.

For RAM members

How to Sign up for a data feed. You will need to complete a 4 party data license agreement to get approved to display IDX listings on your website or other application. We recommend contacting your Web Developer or programmer to submit the appropriate paperwork to us for approval since they most likely have the current form already. If your Web Developer doesn’t have a data feed yet you can have them contact betterdata@ramaui.com or refer them to the For Vendors section below.

RAM MLS has specific rules for IDX and VOW that help to ensure that all listings displayed online are accurate and give proper attribution to the actual listing office. Any RAM broker or agent who wishes to display listings online belonging to another MLS office must complete a Data License Agreement.


What is IDX? Internet Data Exchange (“IDX”), also referred to as “Broker Reciprocity,” is the next stage in the evolution of MLS as the primary means of enhancing cooperation between REALTORS® to facilitate the purchase and sale of real property. IDX gives MLS Participants the ability to authorize the limited electronic display of their listings by other Participants. Under IDX, brokers exchange consent to display each other’s listings on participants’ websites and use applications for mobile devices that participants control. Learn more about IDX policies here.

What is a VOW? Virtual Office Website, (“VOW”) refers to a participant’s Internet website, or a feature of a participant’s Internet website, through which the participant is capable of providing real estate brokerage services to consumers with whom the participant has first established a broker-consumer relationship (as defined by state law) where the consumer has the opportunity to search MLS data, subject to the participant’s oversight, supervision, and accountability.


The RAM MLS rules for IDX and VOW can be found in Section 17 and Section 18. In addition to requiring a Data License Agreement, the developer who receives the MLS Data must also abide by our terms and rules. Examples of rules that RAM works to enforce:

  • Refresh listing data and photos every 12 hours
  • Clearly display Listing Office info that owns the listing
  • Ensure listings are displayed based on “Objective” criteria
  • The listing contains RAMaui IDX disclaimer and shows RAM as the source
  • Is not showing Expired, Temp-Off Market, or Terminated listings

Input fields that control where listings go online: Here is a short explanation of the 7 Data Distribution fields that are required for any RAM MLS listing added in Paragon.

VOW INCLUDE:

Yes – Seller gives permission for the listing to be displayed on all VOW and IDX websites.

No – Seller does NOT want the listing to appear on *ANY* website.

VOW ADDRESS:

Yes – Seller allows listing street address and/or unit number to be displayed.

No – Seller gives permission for the listing to only be displayed WITHOUT a street address and/or unit #.

VOW COMMENT:

Yes – The seller gives permission for consumer blogging, commenting, or reviewing of this property on an Agent/Broker website.

No – The seller DOES NOT give permission for any consumer blogging, commenting, or reviewing of this property on an Agent/Broker website

VOW AVM:

Yes – The seller gives permission for the listing to be displayed on any Agent/Broker website alongside any third-party AVM information.

No – The seller DOES NOT give permission for the listing to be displayed on any Agent/Broker website alongside any third-party AVM information.

PERMISSION TO ADVERTISE RAM WEBSITE (Y/N):

Determines if the listing will appear in WebSearch on the www.RAMaui.com site

PERMISSION TO ADVERTISE RAM VENDOR WEBSITE (Y/N):

Determines if the listing will appear on Realtor.com, ListHub, and any other third-party websites.

PERMISSION TO ADVERTISE RAM WEBSEARCH WEBSITE (Y/N):

Determines if the listing will appear in WebSearch on agent/broker web sites.


Where do listings go online? Listings that are entered in the RAM Paragon MLS system are distributed to over 100 licensed data vendors who provide home searches and real estate applications for many brokerages and agent websites. It is difficult to get an exact count but we estimate that over 500 agent or office websites operated by RAM REALTORS display our listings at any given time. RAM also has a direct license agreement to display listings on www.RAMAUI.com, Realtor.com, Homes.com, and Homesnap.com.

“Current estimate of websites and mobile applications that feature RAM listings: 450-550.”


For Vendors

RAM currently offers the MLS data in WEB-API format. Paragon API is a flexible and reliable way to receive normalized listing data for your applications. Our API data distribution platform manages the Data License Agreements for RAM vendors, brokers, and agents. It is also compliant with the Data Dictionary standards from the Real Estate Standards Organization (RESO).

Paragon API provides RAM listing and agent data for IDX, VOW, and Broker Back Office solutions.

To request an application to apply for the API data license or more info please send an email with your contact info to betterdata@ramaui.com. RAM MLS currently charges fees for the API and will be charged annually to the Vendor.

Note: After a Vendor has been approved for Paragon API any of their clients (Brokers, Agents) will need to register their own Paragon API account in order to sign the 4 party Data License Agreements.

IDX Disclaimer (to be displayed with each individual IDX listing): This information is believed to be accurate. It has been provided by sources other than the Realtors Assoc. of Maui and should not be relied upon without independent verification. You should conduct your own investigation and consult with appropriate professionals to determine the accuracy of the information provided and to answer any questions concerning the property and structures located thereon. Featured properties may or may not be listed by the office/agent presenting this brochure. The listing broker’s offer of compensation is the dollar amount or percentage of sale price the listing broker offers to pay a broker who (a) participates in the multiple listing service where the listing broker filed the listing and (b) procures the buyer for a successful transaction. Copyright, 1995-2022, REALTORS® Association of Maui, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

MLS IDX/VOW rules

Additional questions? Contact RAM at 808-873-8585 or betterdata@ramaui.com.

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