MRED Access For Out-of-State REALTORS®

Chicago’s MLS, Powered by MRED — Available Nationwide

Whether you’re entering listings into a private network or syndicating active inventory to the market, you need an MLS that gives you control. Chicago’s MLS, powered by MRED, does exactly that, and the Chicago Association of REALTORS® is your access point.

This page is for REALTORS® licensed outside of Illinois who are looking to establish or join an MLS office through the Chicago Association of REALTORS®.

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Compare Your Options

Why Get Full Access

Why PLN Only

Why Use Chicago

Pricing

Related Pages

Chicago’s MLS Policy

MLS Subscription FAQs

Open an MLS Office

Join an Existing MLS Office

MRED Resources

MRED Rules, Regulations & Policies

MLS System Training

Get Started

Open an MLS Office

For the principal broker or broker of record establishing a new office with the Chicago Association of REALTORS®.

Who this is for: The licensed broker who holds principal broker status for your firm and will serve as the MLS participant of record.

Eligibility: You must be an active REALTOR® with any REALTOR® association.

Open an MLS Office

Join an Existing MLS Office

For individual agents whose firm already has an established MLS office with us.

Who this is for: Licensed agents who are active REALTORS® and affiliated with a firm that has an established MLS participant account with the Chicago Association of REALTORS®.

Eligibility: You must be an active REALTOR® with any REALTOR® association, and your affiliated office must already be established as an MLS participant with the Chicago Association of REALTORS®. 

Join an Existing MLS Office

Why Partner With the Chicago Association of REALTORS®?

Not all paths to MRED are the same. Here’s what sets ours apart. 

Easy and Customizable Onboarding

We work with offices of every size and structure. Whether your brokerage wants to establish its full agent roster at once or add agents one at a time as they join, we accommodate both.

Flexible Billing Options

If your firm covers MLS costs for your agents centrally, we can handle bulk office billing. If each agent pays individually, we support that too. You tell us how your office works, and we’ll match it.

Experienced, Supportive Staff

Our staff onboards brokerages and agents on a regular, high-volume basis. When you have a question about your MLS subscription (setting up your office, managing your roster, handling billing, navigating complex firm structures), our knowledgeable team is here to help.

For platform support, tools and how-to guidance, MRED’s dedicated help desk is there alongside you. Between the two, you’re covered.

Support for Your Whole Office

Setting up MLS access isn’t just about getting your agents into the system. It’s about making sure the right people have the right level of access to support your office from day one. We’re set up to support you, however your brokerage operates.

For offices that need administrative staff to manage MLS functions at the office level, we offer an Office Secretary user type — a free account that gives designated staff members the ability to perform administrative functions on behalf of the office, with permissions similar to those of the participant. No additional cost, no separate subscription.

For agents who rely on personal assistants to manage searches, transactions and client communications, we offer a Personal Assistant user type — allowing assistants to perform functions on behalf of one or more individual agents within the office.

Choose Your Level of Access

Chicago’s MLS offers two subscription options for out-of-state participants. Both are available exclusively to active REALTORS®.

Features

Full MLS Access

PLN Only Access

What it is

Complete access to Chicago’s MLS, powered by MRED, including active and private listing search, listing entry into both the Standard Listing Network and PLN, and all platform tools.

Access to MRED’s Private Listing Network — a secure, broker-to-broker database within connectMLS.

Who it’s for

Brokerages and agents who want to list, search and syndicate through one of the most advanced MLS platforms in the country.

Brokerages whose primary need is a governed, MLS-compliant network for private and coming soon listings.

Listing entry

Full Standard Listing Network (SLN) and PLN

PLN only

Search and viewing

Full MLS database: all active listings across all property types, plus full access to search and view PLN listings

PLN listings only

Syndication

Advanced controls over where and how active listings are distributed, including price history, days on market and AVM management.

Listings remain within the MLS broker network by default; seller-level controls available for VOW distribution, including advanced display options for address, remarks, comments and AVM.

Pricing

Paid service — per user fees apply. See pricing below.

No per user fee. See pricing below for office fees.

Why Choose Full Access?

Full MLS Access includes everything in PLN-Only access, plus the complete connectMLS platform. If your brokerage wants active listing search, public syndication controls and the full power of Chicago’s MLS alongside your PLN access, Full Access gives you all of it.

Advanced listing display controls.

Decide how your active listings appear across third-party platforms. Manage price history visibility, days on market display and automated valuation model (AVM) data — giving your sellers control over their negotiating position from the moment a listing goes live. 

Syndication and Data Delivery. 

Use Chicago’s MLS as your primary syndication platform. Rather than managing listing distribution across multiple local MLS relationships, enter once and control where your listings go from a single, advanced platform. 

Beyond IDX and VOW, MRED’s data delivery includes Broker Back Office feeds for behind-the-scenes tools like accounting software and agent production reporting, and Broker Only feeds that give your firm complete control over your own listing data. You decide what goes where.

Seller choice, fully supported. 

Whether a seller wants maximum market exposure or prefers to start in a private network before going public, Full Access gives your agents the tools to honor that preference at every stage. 

Why the Private Listing Network?

MRED’s Private Listing Network has operated since 2016 as a broker-to-broker database, structured, governed and entirely separate from public-facing platforms.

What the PLN is:

Pricing

All pricing reflects current rates for service from May 2026 through September 30, 2026. All fees are reviewed annually by the Chicago Board of Directors and are subject to change.

Full MLS Access

NOTE: if you, the Participant, choose Full MLS Access when you start your office, any agent who joins your MLS-Only Office may then choose between Full MLS and PLN-Only Access.

Type of Fee

Who Pays

Amount

Office Setup Fee

Participant (One Time)

$400

Annual Office Fee

Participant

$83.33*

Per User Annual Fee

Participant + all subscribers

$250.00*

*Prorated for service the current month through September 30, 2026. The MLS renewal period is October 1 – September 30 each year.

PLN-Only Access

NOTE: if you, the Participant, choose PLN-Only when you start your office, any agent who joins your MLS-Only Office must also choose PLN-Only.

Type of Fee

Who Pays

Amount

Office Setup Fee

Participant (One Time)

$400

Annual Office Fee

Participant

$83.33*

Per User Annual Fee

–

$0

*Prorated for service the current month through September 30, 2026. The MLS renewal period is October 1 – September 30 each year.

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