The Costa Rica MLS - 2011
After reviewing alternative MLS systems, and while sharing the recognition that Costa Rica needed one true, national real estate database, Costa Rica’s two leading realtor associations agreed to work together to implement the Proxio Global Database for real estate. Proxio is being adopted by realtor organizations around the world, while working to become the industry standard for MLS systems. At this time, the Costa Rica MLS is being offered exclusively to realtor members of CRGAR – Costa Rica Global Association of Realtors, and CCCBR – Camara Costariccense de Corredores Bienes Raices.
Overview:
Who may have an account to use the MLS? Current realtor members of CCCBR and CRGAR may have individual accounts on The Costa Rica MLS, and have access to public and private features. General assistants and other non-realtor staff may work with the MLS database and networks on behalf of the realtor, through the realtor’s account, but they cannot represent buyers and sellers of properties in Costa Rica on their own. Account sharing by realtors is not permitted. All realtor account holders will be subject to system rules and procedures, which will be published before April 1.
What types of listings will be permitted? Exclusive listings will be permitted on the system at all times. In recognition of the unique nature of the Costa Rican market, authorized non-exclusive listings will be accepted for the first year of operation. In this case, the realtor wishing to post a non-exclusive listing to the system will need to produce an original letter indicating that the legal seller of the property authorizes them to post the listing to the MLS. (There will be a standard Costa Rica MLS letter available to use) These authorizations will be confirmed by The Costa Rica MLS.
By posting exclusive or authorized non-exclusive listings to the system, the realtor agrees to provide, on demand, written proof of the nature of their relationship with the relevant property seller to the Administrator of The Costa Rica MLS.
What types of properties will be permitted on the MLS? Any legal real estate property in Costa Rica with a valid Folio Real number in the National Registry can be posted to The Costa Rica MLS by the realtor holding the valid contract to offer it.
Will there be rules, violations and penalties for users? Yes, and they will be based on common sense interpretations of ethical practice. If you would not do or say something in person or in print because the ethical aspects would concern you, then don’t try it on The Costa Rica MLS. Before details are ready to be published, know that honest mistakes will be forgiven, multiple and repeated mistakes of a similar nature will not be considered honest, and all clear misrepresentations will receive harsh penalties. Penalties will be levied in the form of account suspensions on the system, which will remove the realtor and their listings from view.
When will The Costa Rica MLS be fully functional? The system you are seeing today has all database and network features operating for realtor users. The listings and networks are also available to every global realtor using a Proxio database platform – currently hundreds of thousands worldwide.
The Costa Rica MLS is now available for searches by the global public at large. More public portals will be established on the website of The Costa Rica MLS, any affiliated organizations who desire to do so, and on the websites of realtor members who request the installation of an MLS “widget”.
The “widget” will allow a public visitor to a specific realtor’s website to gain public access to the listing database of The Costa Rica MLS, while concealing the contact information of other realtors on the system. In this fashion, realtors may offer public access to The Costa Rica MLS without necessarily “losing” the potential client to other realtors in the database. The widget is an optional feature and not part of the basic service of The Costa Rica MLS.
Lastly, it is the intent of The Costa Rica MLS to offer an enhanced capability to check the validity of Folio Real numbers on Costa Rica’s Public Registry as soon as possible. The recent announcement that public use of the Public Registry will no longer be free has complicated the situation. Until this new Registry policy is clarified, The Costa Rica MLS asks all realtors to maintain current proofs of the validity of Folio Real numbers for their listings, and to be prepared to submit copies to the MLS Administrator on demand.
Who is providing the administration and user backup for the Costa Rica MLS? The day-to-day management of The Costa Rica MLS is being provided by CRGAR. News and information about The Costa Rica MLS will be posted to CostaRicaRealEstateMLS.com and sent to our network of followers.
User questions concerning the database, networks, and features can be directed to:
Email – admin@costaricarealestatemls.com
Phone – 6657 (870-TO-MLS)
Fax – 2654-5405
Associations and The Costa Rica MLS
The Costa Rica MLS is built upon the strong support and involvement of allied professional associations. Among the most important are:
Costa Rica Global Association of Realtors (CRGAR)
CRGAR is the only realtor association in Costa Rica offering professional and affiliate membership, peer-licensing, education, NAR membership, ICREA membership, access to The Costa Rica MLS, ethical enforcement, global marketing, governmental liaison, and a commitment to the growth of the country - all within one volunteer organization. Its members are required to also join NAR, ICREA, and The Costa Rica MLS, and to adhere to the highest professional standards shared by all of them.
Mission
CRGAR will work to promote professionalism, education and ethics in the real estate industry in Costa Rica, to meet all the business and political needs of our members, to unite those engaged in the real estate profession to exert a beneficial influence on common interests, and to bring investors and owners together with the right tools to facilitate the buying and selling process.
Vision
CRGAR will strive to always offer the most effective and competitive professional platform for realtors working in Costa Rica.
National Association of Realtors (NAR)
NAR is the largest and most prominent realtor association in the world. While being based in the United States, NAR accepts international members who agree to be bound by its standards. All realtor members of CRGAR automatically become members of NAR. Mission The core purpose of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® is to help its members become more profitable and successful. Vision The NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® strives to be the collective force influencing and shaping the real estate industry. It seeks to be the leading advocate of the right to own, use, and transfer real property; the acknowledged leader in developing standards for efficient, effective, and ethical real estate business practices; and valued by highly skilled real estate professionals and viewed by them as crucial to their success. Working on behalf of America's property owners, the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® provides a facility for professional development, research and exchange of information among its members and to the public and government for the purpose of preserving the free enterprise system, and the right to own, use, and transfer real property.
History – Click Here
International Consortium of Real Estate Associations (ICREA)
ICREA, a Consortium of the world’s leading real estate associations, speaks for a global network of the world’s most professional realtors, uniting through 68 national and regional associations.
Mission and Vision
ICREA is committed to the right to own and transfer real property. ICREA sets standards for international real estate practice and facilitates worldwide real estate transactions through its website, WorldProperties.com. ICREA and its member associations are committed to high standards of professional conduct for member brokers. Each member association has a country-specific code of conduct and, collectively, the organization has adopted a statement on International Principles of Conduct.
History – Click Here
Camara de Costarricense Corredores de Bienes Raices (CCCBR)
CCCBR was the first realtor association in Costa Rica.
Mission
The Camara will support our associates so that they can perform professionally in the real estate activity with ethical standards, and be harmonious technicians to meet the maximum demands of the domestic and international markets for the benefit of our associates, our clients and Costa Rica.
Vision
The Camara will be an institution with spirit of service to the country, to remain in the public view as a leader and modern facilitator of the professional responsibilities for our associates through: the approval of the government Bill that would come to regulate the activity of real estate agencies, the training and accreditation of realtors; the generation of business on a national level to real estate brokerages and becoming the national market of larger properties of the country.