Looking back in time, the MLS was supposed to be simple: A seller – a listing - an agreement to share - a buyer - a sale. Everyone benefited, including the buyers and the sellers. The MLS model in use today dates back to the 1960s when almost all brokers involved in transactions represented the seller, either as the seller's agent or as the subagent of the listing broker. The seller paid the listing broker who, in turn, was responsible for compensating the broker working with the buyer.
According to the Swanepoel TRENDS Report 2007 [4] this changed during the 1990s, with the evolution of buyer's agents, the advancement of the Internet, the subsequent and rapid sharing of real estate listing data online, and the copyright door being thrown wide open. Today there are 800+ MLS systems across the country and consolidation is inevitable.
The drive towards the freedom of information has caused MLS to evolve into a consumer marketplace and a quasi public utility. That in turn has opened new competitors such as Google, Yahoo!, PropertyMaps.com, Trulia, Move.com, Zillow.com, and Craigslist all searching for the winning model.
In Canada, MLS is a cooperative system accessible only to the 82,000+ members of the Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA), working through Canada's 99 real estate boards and 11 provincial/territorial associations.
However, there is a publicly accessible website [9] that serves as an "advertising vehicle provided by REALTORS across Canada to help market properties." The website contains a searchable database of properties listed on the MLS system, but with limited details. Users are directed to contact a Realtor for more information.