TRENDING: Osmington Gerofsky Advances Vandyk’s Mimico Project In Receivership

Multiple Listing Service (MLS)

Learn how the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) works in Canadian real estate, and why it’s the most important tool for buying and selling homes.

Multiple Listing Service (MLS)

May 22, 2025


What is the Multiple Listing Service (MLS)?

The Multiple Listing Service (MLS) is a cooperative database where Canadian real estate agents list properties for sale, enabling wide visibility and information sharing.

Why the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) Matters in Real Estate

MLS is the primary tool used by REALTORS® across Canada to market homes, share listings, and find properties for buyers. It aggregates comprehensive property data including:
  • Listing price
  • Home features
  • Photos and virtual tours
  • Neighbourhood data
Only licensed real estate professionals who are members of a board affiliated with the Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA) can post listings on MLS. The system fosters transparency, comparability, and competition in the marketplace.

MLS offers benefits for both buyers and sellers:
  • Sellers gain broad exposure to qualified buyers
  • Buyers can access detailed, up-to-date listings
MLS listings also power popular public-facing platforms like REALTOR.ca, where consumers can search properties nationwide.
Understanding MLS is key to navigating the Canadian real estate market effectively, whether buying or selling a home.

Example of the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) in Action

A real estate agent lists a detached home in Ottawa on MLS. The listing appears on REALTOR.ca and attracts dozens of viewings within days.

Key Takeaways

  • Central database for property listings.
  • Accessible to licensed real estate professionals.
  • Powers REALTOR.ca and public search platforms.
  • Enhances visibility, comparability, and trust.
  • Vital tool for real estate marketing and discovery.

Related Terms

  • REALTOR
  • Real Estate Agent
  • Listing Agreement
  • Exclusive Listing
  • REALTOR.ca

Additional Terms

Recourse Loan

A recourse loan is a type of loan where the lender can pursue the borrower’s personal assets, beyond the collateral, in the event of default.. more

Pari Passu

A pari passu clause is a contractual provision ensuring that multiple creditors share equally in repayment priority from the borrower’s assets.. more

Non-Recourse Loan

A non-recourse loan is a type of loan where the lender’s only remedy in case of default is to seize the collateral property; the borrower is not. more

Net Operating Income

Net operating income (NOI) is the total income generated by a property after operating expenses are deducted but before taxes and financing costs.. more

Mechanic's Lien

A mechanic’s lien is a legal claim by a contractor, subcontractor, or supplier for unpaid work or materials provided for a property.. more

Lis Pendens

Lis pendens is a legal notice filed in the land registry indicating that a property is subject to ongoing litigation that may affect its title.. more

More For You

DiamondCorp, BV Realty Propose 48 Storeys Neighbouring Future LRT Stop

DiamondCorp, BV Realty Propose 48 Storeys Neighbouring Future LRT Stop
5-15 Park Hill/Arcadis

DiamondCorp and BV Realty Partners are behind plans for a 48-storey condo tower that would replace a string of single-family homes just north of the future Cedarvale station of the Eglinton Crosstown LRT. The development would deliver over 500 new residential units and be designed by Arcadis.

Plans were filed in late-August and support an Official Plan and Zoning Bylaw Amendment application to increase the height and density on permitted on the site, which includes five owner-occupied detached dwellings. The site spans from 5-15 Park Hill Road in Toronto's Forest Hill Neighbourhood and is located just northwest of the Eglinton Avenue West and William R. Allen Road intersection.

Keep ReadingShow less

Meet The Agent: Ian Matthews, RE/MAX Prime Properties-Unique Group Inc.

Ian Matthews, broker at RE/MAX Prime Properties-Unique Group Inc.

Welcome to Meet the Agent, an ongoing series profiling real estate agents from across Canada. With more than 150,000 agents, brokers, and salespeople working in 75 different boards and associations across the country, we thought it was about time they had a place to properly introduce themselves.

If you or someone you know deserves the same chance, email agents@storeys.com to apply.

Keep ReadingShow less

Op-Ed: What Our Neglected Structures Say About What We Value

Op-Ed: What Our Neglected Structures Say About What We Value
Ontario Place Redevelopment, March 30, 2025 / Shutterstock

This article was written and submitted by Richard Witt, an architect and principal at BDP Quadrangle where he tries to fill every half empty glass.

“Architecture is like clothing for our streets,” said Robert Wiljer, a professor I was fortunate enough to study under at the University of Waterloo. “Some people walk by and never notice what others are wearing. But for some of us, it matters deeply.” That line seems to be resonating with me more recently as I traverse the west end of Toronto, and I suspect would have the same resonance if I was able to get to other parts of the city (expediently).

Keep ReadingShow less

Brookfield Looks To Sell Retail Component Of Shangri-La Vancouver

Brookfield acquired Shangri-La Vancouver earlier this year and is rebranding the hotel as a Hyatt.

Brookfield acquired Shangri-La Vancouver earlier this year and is rebranding the hotel as a Hyatt. / Peterson, DIALOG Design

Less than three months after acquiring the Shangri-La Vancouver, which is set to be rebranded by Hyatt, Canadian multinational investment firm Brookfield is looking to flip the retail component they acquired alongside the hotel, STOREYS has learned.

The Shangri-La Vancouver is located at 1128 W Georgia Street — between W Georgia Street and Alberni Street, along Thurlow Street — and consists of a 62-storey tower with 119 hotel suites on the first 15 floors and 307 residences above. Adjacent to the tower is a three-storey building at 1121 Alberni Street that houses retail space.

Keep ReadingShow less

My Neighbour, The Shelter

My Neighbour, The Shelter

Welcome art at 629 Adelaide St. W shelter

A new homeless shelter recently opened in my neighbourhood, operated by St. Felix Centre. By definition, I am the one who is “supposed” to object — the neighbour who falls into the familiar NIMBY category. Instead, I want to explain why I support this project, and why it has the ingredients not only to succeed but to become a model for other shelters.

When Adaptive Reuse Meets Urgent Need

The shelter was created by renovating an existing building, rather than constructing a new one. This distinction is critical. New builds are often more difficult for communities to accept because they visibly alter the physical status quo of the neighbourhood. By repurposing an existing building, the change is primarily in use, not in built form. This reduces disruption while still addressing urgent need.

Keep ReadingShow less

KingSett Capital Buys Pender Place Office Towers In Vancouver From CF & IMCO

The Pender Place office towers at 700-750 W Pender Street in Vancouver.

The Pender Place office towers at 700-750 W Pender Street in Vancouver. / Cadillac Fairview

Toronto-based private equity real estate firm KingSett Capital has acquired the twin office towers in downtown Vancouver known as Pender Place, after the high-profile complex was put on the market earlier this year.

Pender Place is located at 700 W Pender Street and 750 W Pender Street in the heart of downtown Vancouver, which are together a single 0.716-acre legal parcel with an address of 700 W Pender Street.

Keep ReadingShow less

TRREB Calls For More Rate Cuts As GTA Housing Market Shows Fragile Recovery

TRREB Calls For More Rate Cuts As GTA Housing Market Shows Fragile Recovery
Shutterstock

While still far from recovered, the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) housing market continued to see increased activity in August as home sales grew on a year-over-year basis for the second month in a row. According to the Toronto Regional Real Estate Board (TRREB), there were 5,211 home sales last month, up 2.3% compared to August 2024.

This bump follows a 10.9% annual increase in home sales recorded in the previous month, which was the highest July home sales had been since 2021. On a seasonally-adjusted month-over-month basis, however, sales dipped 15.7% in August from July's 6,100 transactions.

Keep ReadingShow less

Op-Ed: The Future Of Ontario’s Cottage Market Depends On Smart Regulation

Op-Ed: The Future Of Ontario’s Cottage Market Depends On Smart Regulation
Shutterstock

This article was written and submitted by Jayne McCaw, Founder of Jayne’s Luxury Rentals in Port Carling, Ontario.

Ontario’s cottage country is more than a scenic getaway; it’s a critical engine for our province’s tourism economy. Muskoka alone welcomes over three million visitors annually, many of whom stay in short-term rental properties that allow families to gather, explore, and reconnect with nature. As the Founder of Jayne’s Luxury Rentals, which manages over 300 premium properties across Ontario, I’ve seen firsthand how essential short-term rentals have become — not just for guests, but for communities.

Keep ReadingShow less
Privacy PolicyAbout UsTerms of UseAdvertise with UsJobsContact UsRSS Feed
2025 © STOREYS Publishing Inc. | All Rights Reserved