Real estate buy/sell/rental platform with MLS RETS integration

Context

A real estate operator needed a single platform covering buy, sell, and rental flows (not three separate sites stitched together), with listing data flowing in from MLS sources across North America.

Problem

MLS data lives behind the RETS standard, and most agent-facing platforms either don’t speak RETS at all or hand-roll a fragile importer per market. Without a proper RETS pipeline, the listing surface goes stale within weeks of launch.

Approach

A Node.js application with a hybrid MySQL + MongoDB data layer, hosted on AWS, with a RETS-standard import pipeline as a first-class subsystem. A back-office automation layer for agents and sellers sits on top so the platform isn’t just a listing site; it carries the agent’s daily operational workflow.

Solution

• Node.js application tier; MySQL for transactional records (transactions, agent accounts), MongoDB for listing documents and unstructured data.
• AWS hosting and infrastructure.
• RETS-standard MLS import pipeline pulling listings from feeds across North America into the platform database.
• Back-office automation surfaces for real estate agents and sellers to run their operational workflow inside the platform.
• Three transaction modes (buy, sell, rental) sharing the listing model rather than duplicating it.

Outcome

Above. The RETS pipeline is the load-bearing infrastructure decision: without it the listings surface becomes stale; with it the platform stays current against MLS sources across the continent.