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Handbook on Multiple Listing Policy

Participants' Rights, Section 20: Brokerage Back Office Feed (Policy Statement 8.7)

January 1, 2024

That participants are entitled to use, and MLSs must provide to participants, the BBO Data, for BBO Use subject to the Terms below:

“BBO Data” means all real property listing and roster information in the MLS database, including all listings of all participants, but excludes (i) MLS only fields (those fields only visible to MLS staff and the listing participant), and (ii) fields and content to which MLS does not have a sufficient license for use in the Brokerage Back Office Feed.

“BBO Use” means use of BBO Data by participant and subscribers affiliated with the participant for the following purposes:

  • Brokerage management systems that only expose BBO Data to participant and subscribers affiliated with participant.
  • Customer relationship management (CRM) and transaction management tools that only expose the BBO Data to participant, subscribers affiliated with participant, and their bona fide clients as established under state law.
  • Agent and brokerage productivity and ranking tools and reports that only exposes BBO Data to participant and subscribers affiliated with participant.
  • Marketplace statistical analysis and reports in conformance with NAR MLS Policy Statement 7.80, which allows for certain public distribution.

BBO Use may only be made by participant and subscriber affiliated with participant, except that at the request of a participant, MLS must provide BBO Data to that participant’s designee. The designee may use the BBO Data only to facilitate the BBO Use on behalf of that participant and its affiliated subscribers.

There is no option for participants to opt-out their listings from the Brokerage Back Office Feed Use as defined.

“Terms” mean the following:

  • MLSs may impose reasonable licensing provisions and fees related to participant’s license to use Brokerage Back Office Feed Data. MLSs may require the participant’s designee to sign the same or a separate and different license agreement from what is signed by the participant. Such provisions in a license agreement may include those typical to the MLS’s data licensing practices, such as security requirements, rights to equitable relief, and dispute resolution terms. (The foregoing examples are not a limitation on the types of provisions an MLS may have in a license agreement.)
  • Use of roster information may be limited by the MLS participation agreement and license agreements.
  • Brokerage Back Office Feed Use is subject to other NAR MLS policies and local rules.
  • MLSs in their reasonable discretion may expand the definition of Brokerage Back Office Feed Use in conformance with other NAR MLS policies, such as Policy Statement 7.85, which provides that “Use of listings and listing information by MLSs for purposes other than the defined purposes of MLS requires participants’ consent.” (Adopted 11/21) M
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