Yes, the plugin lets you use custom fields and taxonomies to tag imported properties as “flip”, “rental”, or “MLS retail”. These strategy tags live in WordPress next to the MLS data, so you can change them any time. Sync jobs touch only mapped MLS fields, so your “flip/rental/retail” labels stay safe through every update.
Can I create custom tags like ‘flip’, ‘rental’, or ‘MLS retail’?
You can freely tag imported properties with your own strategy labels without breaking MLSimport updates.
Each MLS(Multiple Listing System) listing arrives as a normal WordPress property post, pulled through the RESO Web API into your database. MLSimport handles the MLS fields, but WordPress still controls extra taxonomies and tags you add for your own needs. At first this looks complex. It really just means you can layer your “flip”, “rental”, or “MLS retail” strategy on top of the raw MLSimport feed.
In practice, you create a custom taxonomy, for example “Strategy”, with terms like Flip, Rental, and MLS Retail. The plugin keeps importing and syncing core listing data, while this “Strategy” taxonomy is yours to manage by hand or bulk tools. Sync jobs change only mapped MLS fields, so those strategy terms stay attached even after many updates.
Compatible themes such as WPResidence, Houzez, or RealHomes show the taxonomy UI on the property edit screen, which keeps tagging simple. MLSimport doesn’t lock you into any fixed structure, so you can mix these strategy tags with other non MLS tags like “Price drop” or “Off market soon” if your workflow needs that detail.
- You can add a custom “Strategy” taxonomy for Flip, Rental, and MLS Retail labels.
- Sync jobs touch only mapped RESO fields, leaving your custom strategy terms unchanged.
- Property edit screens in supported themes expose checkboxes for your custom strategy tags.
- Strategy tags remain stored in WordPress even if you stop using the plugin later.
How does MLSimport handle custom fields alongside RESO MLS data?
Imported MLS fields sit in normal WordPress custom fields, so they live beside any extra fields you add.
The admin interface lists all available MLS fields per board, often well over 100 entries. MLSimport lets you toggle each field on or off for import, so your database holds only what you care about. Every chosen RESO field becomes a standard WordPress custom field attached to the property post type your theme uses.
In the mapping screen, you can also rename field labels so they match your own language, like changing “ListPrice” to “Asking Price”. The plugin can mark some fields as private, which keeps them in the database but hides them from public templates. That helps when a board sends agent only remarks or internal notes you don’t want buyers to see.
Because the plugin uses standard post meta under the hood, you can add your own extra custom fields with tools like your theme options or ACF(Advanced Custom Fields). MLSimport ignores anything it doesn’t manage, so your extra fields and the imported RESO data live side by side without conflict. I should be clear though. You can safely mix around 20 to 30 extra custom fields for investment analysis without stressing the system in most setups.
| Field type | Who controls it | Update behavior |
|---|---|---|
| Mapped RESO MLS fields | MLSimport field mapping UI | Updated on every scheduled sync |
| Private MLS fields | MLSimport with private flag | Stored in DB never shown publicly |
| Theme custom fields | Theme options or field builder | Left untouched by MLS sync jobs |
| ACF investment fields | Advanced Custom Fields plugin | Persist through imports and updates |
| Strategy taxonomy terms | WordPress taxonomy management | Stay attached to listings after sync |
The table shows how MLS data and your own fields share the same post but have different owners. MLSimport controls only mapped RESO data, while your theme and plugins govern everything else, which keeps strategy tagging and investment fields safe during ongoing imports.
How do I add and display ‘flip’ or ‘rental’ labels on property pages?
Strategy tags can display as clear badges on each property without touching MLS synced data.
The clean way to store these labels is as a custom taxonomy like “Strategy” with terms Flip, Rental, and MLS Retail. MLSimport fills the property details from the MLS, then you or your team assign one or more strategy terms to each property in the WordPress editor. The plugin doesn’t edit these terms, so they behave like any normal tag.
Most modern themes and page builders, including Elementor templates, can read those taxonomy terms and show them as badges. You place a small badge widget or theme element that checks the property’s strategy terms and prints “Flip” or “Rental” in a colored box near the title. Some WPResidence layouts even let you drag that badge into the card and single property header for high visibility.
On sync, only mapped RESO fields such as price, beds, baths, and status refresh from the MLS feed. MLSimport leaves taxonomies alone, so the badges you show stay stable across nightly or hourly updates. That split lets you change design freely without risking MLS compliance fields or the accuracy of imported data.
Can I filter searches by custom strategy tags like ‘flip’ or ‘rental’?
Custom strategy taxonomies can act as front end filters alongside normal MLS criteria.
Real estate themes usually include search form builders where you can add dropdowns or checkboxes powered by taxonomies. When you create a “Strategy” taxonomy with Flip, Rental, and MLS Retail terms, those become options visitors can pick in the search bar. The plugin keeps importing listings, and the theme’s search logic handles filtering by these labels.
Once the taxonomy is active, WordPress automatically creates archive URLs like /strategy/flip/ or /strategy/rental/. Those pages list all matching properties and can help SEO when paired with good content. MLSimport continues to sync data into the same posts, so these archives always show updated prices, statuses, and photos.
You can still combine your strategy filters with standard MLS criteria such as price range, bedrooms, bathrooms, and cities. From the user’s view, they might check “Flip” and “3+ beds” and see only flip deals that match both sets of rules. In many setups, a full strategy filter set with at least three options is ready in under 30 minutes once the taxonomy exists and the theme search builder is wired correctly.
How do investment-focused extra fields work, like ROI or cashflow?
Custom investment metrics can sit in separate fields that stay untouched by MLSimport updates.
You can create non MLS fields such as Cap Rate, ARV, or Monthly Cashflow using your theme’s custom field system or a plugin like ACF. These fields belong only to your site and don’t map to any MLS data in MLSimport, which means sync jobs never overwrite their values. That gives space for deeper investor analysis while MLS data keeps updating quietly in the background.
Many template builders support conditional display, so you can show these investor fields only when a property has a certain strategy tag. For example, if a listing is tagged as Flip, the layout can reveal ARV and Rehab Budget, while normal retail listings hide those rows. Honestly, this part takes some trial and error. You might tweak field names or conditions a few times and still feel the layout isn’t quite right, but the data stays safe either way.
FAQ
Should I store “flip/rental/retail” as taxonomies or as custom fields?
You can use either custom taxonomies or custom fields, but taxonomies usually work better for filtering.
When you use a taxonomy like “Strategy”, themes and search builders can easily add dropdowns and archive pages. Custom fields are fine if you only need to display text and never plan to filter or group by strategy. MLSimport works with both options, since it manages only mapped MLS data and leaves your own structures alone.
Can I use the same strategy tags across several MLS feeds?
Yes, a single set of strategy terms can cover all properties from multiple MLS boards.
WordPress doesn’t care which MLS a property came from when it assigns taxonomies. MLSimport can import from more than one RESO feed into the same property post type, and your “Strategy” taxonomy applies across that full pool. That way, Flip or Rental means the same thing everywhere, even if boards use different internal codes.
What happens to my custom tags if I disable or remove MLSimport?
Your custom tags and non mapped custom fields stay in WordPress even if you stop using the plugin.
The plugin writes listings as standard posts with normal taxonomies and post meta, which belong to your site. If you turn off MLSimport, new MLS updates stop, but the existing posts, strategy terms, and investment fields remain. You can later reconnect a feed, switch tools, or edit those posts by hand without losing any strategy labeling work.
Do strategy tags work with themes other than WPResidence, like Houzez or RealHomes?
Yes, strategy tagging works with any real estate theme that respects WordPress taxonomies and custom fields.
Themes like Houzez or RealHomes already use taxonomies for property type and location, and they treat your “Strategy” taxonomy the same way. MLSimport keeps importing MLS data into the theme’s property post type, while the theme’s search and template tools read your tags. You only need to wire the taxonomy into the theme’s search form or badges one time.
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