Creating a site using Real Homes and IDX is something many realtors try to achieve. This theme has had tremendous success on ThemeForest and comes with a classic look that is appreciated by many realtors. Although it is not as feature-rich as the WpResidence or Houzez themes, it is still an excellent software product that can be used with IDX /RESO to build a successful website.
We will not talk about how we are doing the import on Real Homes but explain how things get organized after that, and we will go through the main sections of this theme.
Before reading this article, you can check the demo made with this theme and MLS Import (sample data). You must also be aware that before building your website, you must buy this theme from ThemeForest and enlist in your MLS Association (you may need to pay a pass-through fee to them).
For anyone interested in real estate, it’s important to understand key concepts. A great resource for this is the article ‘What Is IDX (Internet Data Exchange) – The Complete Guide,’ which explains IDX in an easy-to-understand way.
Setup and Import
As we explained above, you will need to buy and install this theme before doing any import. See here the theme manual.
After you install the theme and import and demo content, we will take over and install our plugin. We will need you to choose what type of listings you want to import, but that’s a simple task you do after our setup process.
Before importing, you will be able to choose what categories of listings you want to import, from what counties or cities, and also pick a price range. Once you make these choices, we can proceed with the import.
Since you may want to import thousands of listings, we will be the ones that supervise the import and make sure everything works as expected. Also, if you plan to import a significant number of properties, you may need to have good hosting (at least a VPS).
Post Type, taxonomies, and agents
The Real Homes theme saves the properties as a custom post type called “property.” The imported listings will act like those added to the theme interface. And that means you will be able to see & edit them from the WordPress admin area.
There are also four taxonomies, and the properties are listed in the right category. However, please note that we are not using the Property Status taxonomy because it does not work with the RESO standards.
Real Homes and IDX / Reso fields
Properties in an MLS database have a lot of data. Maybe too much data. So, during the setup process, you will be able to select what property fields you want to import. These fields are saved as a post meta called REAL_HOMES_additional_details (all the data is saved like an array).
You will see these details on both the front-end property page and the WordPress admin area. You will be able to change the data, but because it saves in a single post meta, you cannot use it on search (so far, only the WpResidence theme can do that).
Property Lists and Property Page
If you want to create a property list page, go to the admin area and create a new page with the template “Property list.” WordPress will create a page where your listings are present in a grid or list view.
And, of course, you will be able to choose what kind of listings you want to appear. Ex: only Apartments from Austin. However, there is no Ajax filtering, and you only have a “sort by” select option that will refresh the page.
You also have a few alternatives regarding the property slider. You can choose between a default layout, a thumbs gallery, or a full-width layout.
Features and amenities
This special category is also present in the Real Homes theme (it is called Property Features). You can see all the imported terms in the special section on the property page and, of course, in the admin area.
Same as in Wp Residence and Houzez, you will be able to use these terms in the search form, and WordPress will generate pages for each one of the terms: you will have pages with listings that have a particular feature.
MLS Images
As you can imagine, some of the imported listings have many photos. Having many photos can help with a sale, but they are a burden for your server. If you import ten thousand listings, you can end up with more than 100k images.
However, MLS Import has a solution to this challenge: we add the images to the database as regular entries, but we are not saving the actual files on your hosting account. Instead, we use the image paths from the MLS content delivery network.
Using this solution, you will be able to use theme features like sliders or shortcodes but at the same time have a page that is loading fast and a server that is not overloaded by too many images.
Theme Shortcodes
The latest version of the Real Homes theme focuses on Elementor Blocks. In case you don’t know Elementor, it is one of the most successful visual builders in the WordPress ecosystem.
Since we imported the listings in your local database, you will be able to use any of these blocks and build custom page templates.
Interactive Maps
Real Homes has integrated two main map providers: Google Maps (a superior but not free system) and Open Street Map (a free version).
There is only one option for markers: to use image pins, and this can create a speed problem when you have many listings on the map.
Edit and Delete of the MLS listings.
Once the setup is done, the MLS Import will go into autopilot. That means it will query the MLS database every hour, and if a new property is added, it will import it into your theme, too. The same thing will happen if the property is just edited.
If the property status is changed to “expired,” “canceled,” etc., it will delete that listing along with any image database entries.
Road Map
If you decide to build a website using a Real Homes theme and MLS import, then you need the following.
- Check with us if your MLS is RESO compatible and register with them if you have not done that already.
- Get a domain name.
- Get a hosting package. If you plan to have thousands of listings, get at least a Virtual private server.
- Buy the theme from ThemeForest
- Install that theme and maybe import a demo content package
- Send us your MLS connection details and server connection details
- We will do the actual import and put the site on autopilot.
If you want to choose another theme, you may want to consult the Best IDX WordPress Themes for Your Real Estate Website article.
Useful Links
Demo with Real Homes and MLS Import (demo data)
List of MLS supported by MLS Import
How to integrate WpResidence with IDX / RESO
How to integrate Houzez with IDX / RESO
FAQ
Can Real Homes be integrated with IDX/RESO, and how does it compare to WPResidence?
Yes. Real Homes can be used with IDX/RESO data by importing MLS listings into your WordPress database so they behave like native Real Homes properties.
In terms of theme capability, the article notes Real Homes has a classic look and is an excellent product, but it is not as feature-rich as WPResidence or Houzez. One practical difference mentioned is that Real Homes stores imported additional MLS details in a single meta field, which means those specific additional details cannot be used in search, while WPResidence can use those fields in search.
What do I need in place before the IDX/RESO import for Real Homes can start?
You need to purchase and install the Real Homes theme (from ThemeForest) before any import work begins. You also need to be registered/enlisted with your MLS Association (there may be a pass-through fee) and provide the MLS connection details.
From a site setup perspective, you should have your domain and hosting ready. If you expect to import thousands of listings, the article recommends at least a VPS-level hosting plan. You will also need to provide server connection details so the import can be performed and supervised.
How are imported MLS listings stored in Real Homes (post type, categories, agents, and fields)?
Real Homes stores properties as a custom post type named property, so imported MLS listings are saved as normal Real Homes properties. That means you can view and edit them from the WordPress admin area the same way you would edit manually added listings.
The theme uses taxonomies to organize listings into categories, but the article notes that the Property Status taxonomy is not used because it does not work with RESO standards. For the large set of MLS fields, you can choose which fields to import during setup; the selected additional details are stored in a single post meta entry named REAL_HOMES_additional_details (as an array). Those details display on the front-end property page and in the admin, and you can change them, but because they are stored in one meta field they cannot be used in search (as described in the article).
Will importing thousands of listings slow down my site because of MLS photos?
It can if every photo is saved as an actual file on your server, because large MLS imports can mean tens of thousands of listings and over 100k images.
The approach described in the article is to add images to the database as regular entries without storing the image files on your hosting account. Instead, the site uses the image paths from the MLS content delivery network. This allows you to use theme features like sliders or shortcodes while keeping pages fast and reducing server load.
How do property list pages, search, maps, and ongoing updates work after setup?
To create a listings page, you make a new WordPress page and select the Real Homes template named Property list. That page can show listings in a grid or list view, and you can control what appears (for example, a certain property type in a specific city). The article notes there is no Ajax filtering; you have a basic “sort by” control that refreshes the page.
For features/amenities (Property Features), imported terms appear on the property page and can be used in the search form, and WordPress will generate archive pages for each feature term. For maps, Real Homes supports Google Maps (not free) and OpenStreetMap (free), and marker pins are image-based, which can introduce speed issues when many listings are displayed.
After setup, updates are automated: the system queries the MLS every hour, importing new listings and applying edits to existing ones. If a listing’s status changes to values like “expired” or “canceled,” it is deleted along with its image database entries.
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