AI: Artificial Intelligence is a term used to describe a broad set of software techniques that include large learning models (LLMs), image tagging, and other technologies. DMLS uses AI to provide tech support answers, check images for rule violations, and soon may check for missing features when loading a listing.

API: Application Programming Interface is a technical term for transmitting data from one computer to another. It replaces an old method of transmitting data called RETS. More information here.

BACAR: Burlington - Alamance County Association of Realtors, a Stakeholder of DMLS.

Black Knight: Black Knight Financial Services is a software company in the property technology industry that develops and publishes the Paragon MLS software application. Intercontinental Exchange, Inc. recently acquired the company; more information here.

Bridge Interactive: A software company that manages the distribution of MLS data to IDX, VOW, and other licensed uses. Bridge distributes data in API and RETS formats and is owned by Zillow Corporation. More information here.

CoreLogic: A software company that publishes the Matrix software application, the Realist Public Records solution, OneHome, Data Checker, and others. CoreLogic is the largest MLS software vendor in the space. The company was recently acquired by Stone Point Capital and Insight Partners. More information here.

CRS: A software company that publishes the CRS Tax Suite and other software applications focused on data retrieved from county property tax agencies across North Carolina. CRS is an acronym for Courthouse Retrieval Service, their old name. More information here.

Cycle: A six-week unit on DMLS’s master project schedule comprised of three two-week Sprints. There are eight cycles in a calendar year.

Data Integrity: DMLS has five specific strategic objectives. The most important one is Data Accuracy and Completeness. Much of the work at TMLS centers around this objective. From the input to change status workflows, TMLS works with developers and vendors to build in accuracy filtering out and disallowing bad data from entering the system. In addition, the data is scanned by software applications such as Data Checker from CoreLogic. Data Checker uses algorithms developed in partnership with staff to detect incorrect or stale data. Tens of thousands of dollars in fines are collected from Subscribers who fail to follow the MLS Rules and Regulations on which the community relies to do business. More information here.

DRAR: Durham Regional Association of Realtors, a Stakeholder of DMLS.

FBS: Financial Business Solutions is a Fargo, ND-based software company that makes the Flexmls MLS software application, the SparkAPI, and other MLS software services. FBS is an employee-owned ESOP company still operated by the founder’s family. More information here.

FiberHomes: FiberHomes is a data service licensed by TMLS to enhance new listings added by Subscribers to the MLS. FiberHomes data regarding broadband availability at thousands of homes can be automatically added at the time of listing load. Once in the database, the data is distributed to IDX and VOW licensees for consumers. More information here.

Flexmls: An MLS software application published by FBS. More information here.

Forewarn: A data service that allows DMLS Subscribers to do a summary background check on people in certain limited conditions. The service is designed to increase overall security for all Subscribers. More information here.

Glossary: A glossary (from Ancient Greek: γλῶσσα, glossa; language, speech, wording), also known as a vocabulary or clavis, is an alphabetical list Updated: February 2024 of terms in a particular domain of knowledge with the definitions for those terms. Also: this.

ICE: Intercontinental Exchange is the parent company of Black Knight Financial Services and the New York Stock Exchange. Link.

IDX: Internet Data Exchange is a license agreement by which MLS Subscribers agree to receive confidential MLS data for sharing with Consumers under certain conditions. Those conditions require that IDX sites follow rules regarding data display and disclosure. More information here.

Front End of Choice: In November 2023, TMLS published a new database translated to RESO standards and made that data available to the top three MLS software applications in the US: Matrix, Paragon, and Flexmls. Leading MLSs use this strategy to build resilience and competition in delivering MLS services.

JCAR: Johnston County Association of Realtors, a Stakeholder of DMLS.

Matrix: An MLS software application published by CoreLogic. More information here.

MLS: Multiple Listing Service is an agreement between Subscribing Brokers to Cooperate under certain local rules regulating the marketing of properties for sale. Mutually agreed rules focus on the accuracy and completeness of the listing data and managed access to the listings for sale. To facilitate the agreement, trade associations set up meetings to share new listings with the assembly aloud. Later, fax trees were established where distribution lists were distributed, instructing each recipient to fax new listings to five fax numbers, who in turn sent it to five, and so on, creating a simple, early network. Later, newsprint Listing and Sold books were assembled and distributed from data entered in early data entry terminals installed in Association offices by the book publishing companies. Some book companies, including FBS, evolved the terminal software intended to capture data for the books into early MLS software. In the mid-1990s, these became websites on the new World Wide Web, and the internet era arrived. This is a good list of MLS services today in the United States.

NAR: The National Association of Realtors, more information here.

NCR: The North Carolina Association of Realtors, more information here.

NCRMLS: The North Carolina Regional MLS is an MLS company in North Carolina based in Wilmington with member Associations located across the state. NCRMLS uses the Flexmls software application, but there is no data-sharing arrangement between the MLSs, so no DMLS data shows in NCRMLS or vice versa. More information here.

NCREC: The North Carolina Real Estate Commission, more information here.

OCHAR: The Orange and Chatham County Association of Realtors, a Stakeholder of DMLS.

Paragon: An MLS software application published by ICE/Black Knight Financial Services. More information here.

RRAR: The Raleigh Regional Association of Realtors, the owner/shareholder of DMLS.

RESO: The Real Estate Standards Organization is an industry group focused on defining and transporting real estate data. Defining terms increases transparency and accuracy within and across markets while defining transport helps build efficiencies. Find out more at www.reso.org. Triangle is a member of the organization, promotes the RED-B education track, and regularly sponsors RESO events.

RETS: The Real Estate Transport Standard is a transport protocol for moving real estate data that generally replaced an older format called FTP, or SFTP. RETS is a version of XML and served as the basis for the early data sharing between MLSs and IDX licensees. RETS is, by nature, a batch process that syncs data on a pre-programmed schedule to retrieve data updates from the MLS. More here.

SparkAPI: SparkAPI is a product of FBS and is the primary method to transport and deliver MLS data to IDX, VOW, and other licensed uses. More here.

Sprint: Two weeks on the DMLS project calendar. More information here.

SSO: Single Sign-on is a term used to describe sharing passwords between software applications without re-entering the password. When DMLS Subscribers sign in to the DMLS Dashboard at my.trianglemls.com, the login is saved and securely shared with affiliated software applications. So, subscribers can log in once and seamlessly access all related services.

Stakeholder Advisory Council (SAC): A panel of stakeholders comprised of three representatives from each stakeholder association. The panel meets at least four times per year but seven to eight times at the start of each Cycle. The SAC advises DMLS staff on rules changes, software updates, and new services and annually elects a TMLS Board of Directors representative. The SAC Representative on the DMLS Board is a full voting member and provides important additional representation for Stakeholders.

DMLS Listing Management System: DMLS’s own collecting and editing system. Built by FBS based on the RESO industry standards, DMLS uses this method to manage the listing database in a format that is maximally sharable to licensees.

Triad MLS: The Triad MLS is an MLS company in North Carolina based in Greensboro and is comprised of three associations: Greensboro, Highpoint, and Winston-Salem. Triad uses the Matrix software application, but there is no data-sharing arrangement between the MLSs, so no DMLS data shows in Triad or vice versa. More information here.

VOW: Virtual Office Website is a license agreement by which MLS Subscribers agree to receive confidential MLS data for sharing with consumers under certain conditions. Those conditions require that VOW sites follow the rules regarding consumer login, retention of data, and making the use available to the MLS for audit. More information here.