MLSImport works with Elementor and Elementor PRO. In standalone mode the plugin ships its own Elementor widgets, and on the four supported themes the theme’s widgets do that job while Elementor handles the rest of the site.
Elementor PRO is not required. Everything the plugin provides works with the free version, and PRO adds its own theme building features on top.
What you get in standalone mode
All thirteen page blocks appear as Elementor widgets under MLSImport Widgets, pinned to the top of the widget panel: property grids, sliders, maps, search forms, category tiles, the team directory and the contact form.
The listing, agent and form widgets carry a Style tab with typography, colour, spacing and border controls that the shortcode and Gutenberg versions do not have. That is the one practical reason to prefer Elementor for these.
The property page sections are deliberately kept out of the widget panel. They are internals of the single property template rather than something to drop on a page, and their shortcodes work inside an Elementor text widget when you do want one.
Elementor PRO theme building
PRO’s theme builder can design your header, footer, blog templates and any page. That works normally alongside the plugin.
The single property page and the property archives are the exception. Standalone mode routes those views to its own templates, so a theme builder template targeting the property post type may not take effect, depending on which runs last. The reliable way to hand those views to Elementor is the mlsimport_template_include filter, which lets a developer return the incoming template instead of the plugin’s.
Before reaching for a theme builder template, try the section arranger in the design settings. Most property page changes people plan a custom template for are a reorder plus one disabled section, and the bundled template keeps receiving improvements a custom one does not.
On the supported themes
WpResidence, Houzez and Real Homes all work with Elementor PRO for general page design, and imported listings are ordinary property posts, so any builder widget that can query a post type can display them.
WpResidence has the strongest Elementor workflow of the three out of the box. It ships its own template system and dedicated widgets for agents, agencies, properties, categories, blog posts, and headers and footers, and its widgets can be used inside Elementor PRO layouts. Houzez also has its own template system and supports Elementor PRO for general pages and internal pages. Real Homes works with Elementor for general pages.
Compare the theme demos before choosing, because the feature sets differ in ways that matter more than the builder support does.
Confirm your MLS RESO Web API credentials work before you spend time on theme and builder decisions. Everything downstream depends on that access, and it is the step with the longest lead time.
If it does not work
- No MLSImport widgets in the panel. Standalone mode is not active. The widgets only exist in that mode.
- A widget renders in the editor but is empty on the page. Its filter matches nothing on the live site. Blocks with no results render nothing at all.
- A widget looks unstyled in the editor. Reload the editor. The plugin’s stylesheets load with the content, and Elementor’s editor frame sometimes renders before they arrive.
- A theme builder single template is ignored on properties. The plugin is routing that view to its own template. Use the
mlsimport_template_includefilter to change that.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need Elementor PRO to use MLSImport?
No. Every plugin widget works with the free version, and shortcodes work with no builder at all.
Can Elementor PRO’s Posts widget show my listings?
In standalone mode yes, since properties are a normal post type. The cards will be Elementor’s own, so they lose the save heart, the status badge and the MLS logo the plugin’s cards carry.
Which theme should I pick if Elementor is my priority?
WpResidence, on the strength of its own template system and its dedicated widget set. Compare the demos against what your business needs before committing, because that usually decides it rather than the builder.
Can you install a theme for me?
For MLSImport subscribers we can install WpResidence and activate a licence we hold, so you can evaluate the setup without buying the theme. Ask support and we will arrange it once your MLS credentials are verified.
Related
- Building your pages: blocks, shortcodes and Elementor widgets
- Arranging the single property page
- Property page building blocks
- Why a compatible theme or standalone mode is needed
Send us the page you are building in Elementor and we will tell you which widget or shortcode fits.