Yes, both NTREIS and your brokerage have rules you must follow before you embed listings. NTREIS controls how IDX data shows, and your brokerage and state rules control your name, brokerage name, and required logos. When you build on WordPress with MLSimport, you still have to follow those rules. But the plugin gives your theme the data and hooks it needs so required credits show in the right places without wrecking your design.
What NTREIS IDX display and attribution rules apply when I show listings?
Your IDX site must credit the MLS(Multiple Listing Service) and the listing broker on every NTREIS property page.
NTREIS usually expects a clear MLS credit line plus copyright text near your IDX search and listing pages. MLSimport pulls in MLS source fields that your WordPress theme can use to print a line like “Courtesy of [Listing Broker] © NTREIS” on each property page. You still choose where that text appears, but the plugin keeps the data updated so you are not hand typing credits on many listings.
NTREIS rules also focus on broker attribution and quick removal of off market listings. The plugin imports the listing broker name and ID so your single listing template can always show who actually listed the property, even when you are only the IDX display broker. When NTREIS flags a listing as sold, expired, or withdrawn, your site should stop showing it within a short time, often within 24 hours as a rule of thumb.
Your IDX domain and vendor usually must be registered with NTREIS before you go live. A setup that uses MLSimport counts as an approved vendor type integration once your API access is granted. That means you tell NTREIS “this domain uses MLSimport with the NTREIS RESO Web API,” then add those keys inside the plugin settings in WordPress. After that, each imported listing can carry the source tag, broker credit, and any required “data deemed reliable but not guaranteed” line in your layouts.
| NTREIS rule area | Typical requirement | How MLSimport helps |
|---|---|---|
| MLS attribution | Show NTREIS copyright and data source on IDX pages | Imports MLS source fields into theme footer credits |
| Broker display | Show listing broker name on every listing | Imports broker fields into single listing templates |
| Off market timing | Remove sold or withdrawn listings within set hours | Hourly sync hides sold or expired properties |
| IDX site approval | Register domain and vendor before public launch | Uses NTREIS API keys for your approved site |
| Data scope | Show only approved public fields to consumers | Maps only RESO public fields in front end views |
Most NTREIS rules end up about credits, timing, and data scope. At first that sounds scary. It is not. MLSimport is built around those same points, so the plugin already cares about them. Once your theme shows the imported source and broker fields in fixed spots, daily compliance checks drop a lot, and you can pay more attention to content.
How does MLSimport help me stay automatically compliant with NTREIS data rules?
Automated MLS syncing keeps your site’s listing data accurate and lined up with NTREIS rules.
The plugin talks to the NTREIS RESO Web API, pulls new and changed listings on a schedule, and updates WordPress posts. MLSimport usually syncs about once an hour as a practical setting, so a price cut or status change made in NTREIS appears on your site the same day without you touching anything. That fast cycle helps you avoid a common IDX problem, which is showing stale or wrong status data to buyers.
When the NTREIS feed marks a property as sold, expired, canceled, or withdrawn, MLSimport will unpublish or hide that listing from public search on the next sync. You are not digging through old pages trying to remember what to delete. You are also not stuck with calls on a house that went under contract last week. Because the plugin uses the official RESO field set, it skips back office fields like private showing notes or owner contact details that NTREIS does not allow on public pages.
Compliance also means importing every field you need to show, not just what looks pretty. MLSimport brings in listing agent ID, listing broker ID, broker name, office phone, and MLS source identifiers so your theme designer can drop them into your card template and full listing layout. You keep design control, unless you ignore the fields and leave them out. In practice, once you map those fields into one or two templates, the plugin will handle NTREIS rules on data freshness and public field limits in the background for a long time.
What brokerage branding and licensing rules should my agent website follow?
Your personal site must show your brokerage’s name and any required regulatory logos wherever you present yourself as an agent.
Most brokers want their name shown at least as big as your own name in the header, footer, or both on all pages, including listing pages. That rule often comes from both brokerage policy and state rules, and it still applies when you build an IDX site that uses MLSimport. You keep freedom over fonts, placement, and colors in your WordPress theme. But you should set clear header or footer space where the brokerage name and any trade group logos always stay visible.
Many firms insist on Equal Housing and REALTOR® logos on every page or at least every page that shows homes, plus links to state forms like Information About Brokerage Services. The MLS feed does not handle those, so you add them in your theme layouts instead of inside the plugin. With an MLSimport build, you can treat imported listings as normal WordPress posts, which makes it simple to include broker and compliance footers through a single template. No need to edit each page by hand.
Some brokerages need written approval before you launch any personal IDX domain, including a quick review of menu labels like “We buy houses for cash” or “Investor services.” In that case you can send them screenshots of your MLSimport powered search pages, showing that the brokerage name is clear and NTREIS credits appear under each property. That mix of strong brokerage branding plus clean MLS compliance often gets faster sign off, because your broker sees a serious site instead of a random side project.
Can I feature only my own or office listings without breaking IDX reciprocity rules?
You may spotlight your own listings if visitors can still search all available IDX listings.
The safest pattern is to use MLS filters for “Our Listings” pages while keeping at least one main search page that shows the full NTREIS IDX pool. MLSimport can import listings only for your office ID or your personal agent ID into a special page or section, which gives you a strong branded “Our Listings” or “Our Portfolio” grid. That page is fine under typical reciprocity rules as long as you do not claim it shows all NTREIS homes when it only shows your own.
Reciprocity issues start when an IDX site hides or blocks other brokers’ listings from every consumer search. With this plugin, you can set one or more search pages that query the entire active NTREIS feed, then use a tighter filter on a separate page to highlight your own stock. So a buyer can still open a “Search all North Texas homes” page and see every allowed broker’s listings. That fits how most MLS IDX policies are written.
- Build an “Our Listings” page filtered by your agent or office ID via the import settings.
- Keep at least one general search page that queries all active NTREIS IDX listings.
- Label any office only grids clearly so buyers know they are limited results.
- Never tweak general searches to quietly hide other brokers’ valid listings.
How do I keep my branding front and center while still showing full NTREIS inventory?
You can fully brand the search experience while still offering complete MLS coverage on your site.
Because MLSimport pulls NTREIS listings into your own WordPress database, visitors see normal pages on your domain, using your theme, not a vendor frame. At first that seems like a small detail. It is not. That setup means your logo, colors, and menus stay the same on property pages as on your blog or “About” page. You can design property cards and single listing templates so they match the rest of your site, which makes the whole thing feel like one clean brand instead of a patched tool.
Full inventory does not mean you must drop your local expert voice. Each listing page can include your own blocks above or below the MLS details, such as “Neighborhood notes,” “Investor angle,” or nearby school summaries, while MLSimport keeps the official fields read only. Site wide search bars labeled “Browse all NTREIS homes” and a clear “Search all homes” menu link tell buyers they are seeing full options, not just hand picked deals, even while they stay inside your brand.
You can also build neighborhood pages that talk about schools, parks, and commute times, then drop in an auto updated listing grid from NTREIS for that area. The plugin handles the data feed and status updates, and your WordPress theme covers the story and calls to action. I will say this more bluntly. That split between data and story feels very normal once you live with it, even if it sounds fussy at first, and you still meet the requirement that IDX sites show complete available inventory for the areas they claim to cover.
FAQ
Does NTREIS charge extra IDX or API fees on top of my MLSimport subscription?
NTREIS will often charge its own IDX or API access fee separate from what you pay MLSimport.
Your MLS board controls access to the NTREIS RESO Web API, and many boards bill a monthly or yearly tech fee for that feed. MLSimport covers the plugin and hosting side, but not your local MLS billing. Plan your budget with two lines: your regular MLS dues plus the IDX or API fee, and then the plugin subscription. Some boards run around $10 to $25 per month, but you must check your own.
Can MLSimport support help me place NTREIS disclaimers and my brokerage info in my theme?
MLSimport support can guide you on which fields to use and where to hook them into your theme.
The support team cannot give legal advice, but they know which imported fields map to NTREIS source credits and broker details. They can point you to the right template files or theme hooks where you should print those fields, and help you test that the credit lines appear on every listing. For brokerage logos and state forms, you still add those in your theme, but support can confirm that imported listings use the same templates so those elements appear.
Can I add investor style notes like “great flip” on listings without breaking rules?
You can add your own commentary around listings as long as the MLS data itself stays unchanged.
MLS rules focus on not altering official fields such as price, remarks, and broker attribution, which MLSimport keeps synced and read only. Around that block of data, your WordPress templates can show extra text like “Our take: strong flip potential” or “Likely rental at about $2,200 per month” based on your view. Keep your notes clearly separate from the MLS description so users can see which text is yours versus the official listing.
How fast do NTREIS listing changes appear on my site, and do I ever need to update by hand?
Listing changes from NTREIS normally flow into your site on the next MLSimport sync, so manual edits are rarely needed.
The plugin is usually set to poll the MLS feed about every hour, which means status changes, new photos, and price updates appear the same day. You should avoid manual edits to synced MLS fields, because the next import cycle will overwrite them. Your manual work should live in separate custom fields or content blocks, while the plugin handles adds, changes, and removals for the core listing data automatically.
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