What is IDX?

IDX with regard to real estate listings stands for Internet Data Exchange. This is a method of sharing listings with the outside world without having to log into a local listing service used by the various real estate boards.

IDX comes in various “flavors” the two most common are live data and downloaded data.

Live Data
If you have a website that is True IDX enabled (not a site that links to search pages provided by a local real estate board) the listings individual users find through searches on a website comes directly from the database that real estate agents use in real time. Your IDX service provider has a direct connection to the database to do searches. What this means is when listing number 123456 is updated, it is live instantly.

Downloaded Data
Websites with True IDX enabled under the download system means that your IDX service provider downloads files and photos from a real estate listing service usually once or twice a day. Some may update hourly depending on how often the listing service provider posts updates. This type of data is not live which means updates made by agents or other real estate office personnel will not display on an IDX website until the next update.

Linking
I have come across a bit of a fallacy with regard to calling sites IDX when they are actually linking or framed pages provided by the local real estate board servers. These allow users to search for real estate listings through the local board server, not from an office or agents website. This method provides functionality and accessibility to users. However there is one drawback to this method. Companies and individuals spend a great deal of money on their websites these days mostly to establish a look, this method of linking means you loose the look and feel of your site and it will be obvious to the user that it is not the same site.

Happy Surfing!