Does REBNY RLS use RETS for listing data?

[Benny]

Also, what exactly is RETS (Real Estate Transaction Standard)? Is it just a standard set of fields?

[Eddie McGowan]

Yes, REBNY uses RETS. It is a database structure standard and data framework that allows different MLS's to more easily share data.

[showtime]

Hi Eddie, it'd be helpful if you could explain what RETS is, and what a RETS connector is in layman terms.

To me, it seems like a RETS connector is like a bridge, open source software that is able to pull data from the MLS in a usable format by third party listings websites.

Now, does that data typically come from the MLS in .xml format? Or in Excel tables?

How does the HGMLS or the new NY MLS do it?