RESO Offers Free Web API Tools for Connecting to MLSs

It's truly a RESO first. We just released Web API client tools – created by RESO -- to help software developers more rapidly deploy real estate software specifically for connecting to the hundreds of MLSs nationwide that have implemented RESO API Standards. This free software package includes the Web API client application itself, as well as the source code for the open source client software.

We're excited about our first in-house creation of client software tools for a few of reasons. In the in the past, we relied on outside technology firms to develop client software for accessing real estate data based on RESO Standards. With our in-house developed software capability, we are adding significantly to the value of a RESO membership, while benefiting the real estate industry as a whole.

We did so in response to what many RESO members have told us they need in order to develop and deploy real estate software that is dependent on real-time property data, because that benefit all players in the industry – from technologists to real estate professionals to consumers.

About the new RESO Web API Tools

What's also exciting is what this means: this desktop client application is written with reusable code libraries using .NET C# that allows rapid development of API client applications connecting to data sources leveraging RESO standards.

Developers will be pleased to know that there are multiple packages available, each including the full source code and the standalone Reference Client that implements the code libraries. The different standalone code libraries can be used for rapid development in a custom application. The new offering from RESO is designed to save a software developer from dealing with the RESO Web API Specification and underlying OData, OAuth2 and OpenID Connect protocol details.

By providing the client library pre-packaged and essentially a "plug and play" solution, it allows the application writer of the software to concentrate on the development of their application – instead of the underlying transport protocol. The bottom line: this saves the real estate technology developer time and money in the process.

A couple of great examples of what these advancements mean for real estate brokers and agents is how Agent Inbox can turn on a product in 24 hours with MLS API Data access, or how AgentSquared can create an instant IDX website for FBS Flexmls customers through leveraging the Spark API platform, which supports the RESO Data Dictionary and RESO Web API. All of this means access to real-time data, lower costs for agents and brokers and faster time to market for products requiring MLS Data.

Developers: RESO wants feedback

We want software developers to know that RESO is committed to the evolution of RESO provided client software. And that means we invite community feedback, directly to RESO through our member communications platform or non-members by contacting us through www.reso.org. For developers, we encourage their participation in our GitHub repository. This will help us consider future revisions and enhancements to client software to support our evolving RESO Web API Specifications and the needs of the development community in the industry.

RESO will be looking at other potential software development opportunities. We can even envision different applications built using the same framework of the tools we have already provided. That said, developer participation and feedback is the key, so we want to hear from you.

RESO Austin Tech Summit Almost Sold Out

Speaking of wanting to engage software developers, if you haven't yet registered for the RESO Spring Technology Summit in Austin next month, we are encouraging you to do so soon as we are almost sold out. Register for the Tech Summit here (non-members will need to create an account first, members will need to sign in) and we will see you in Austin!