Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is CTREAL.com and where does its data come from?
A: CTREAL.com is real estate search engine dedicated to properties for sale or rent in Connecticut, and is the official search engine of the Connecticut Association of REALTORS®, Inc.

Q: What Connecticut towns are available on CTREAL.com?
A: The Connecticut Statewide Multiple Listing Service and CTREAL.com serve the entire State of Connecticut, although not every REALTOR® is yet a member of CTMLS. For your listing to appear on CTREAL.com, your realtor must be a member of CTMLS and request that your listing be published on CTREAL.com.

Q: What is CTMLS?
A: The Connecticut Statewide Multiple Listing Service is sponsored by the Connecticut Association of REALTORS®, Inc. The mission of CTMLS is to improve the orderliness and efficiency of the real estate market in the State of Connecticut. It is the only statewide multiple listing service in Connecticut and is open to all Connecticut REALTORS® to search for and publish real estate listings on behalf of their clients.

Q: How many REALTORS® use CT Statewide MLS?
A: More than 13,000 REALTORS® use CTMLS to publish and search for listings on behalf of their clients.

Q: Who did the photography work displayed at the top of each page on this website?
A: All of these great images are the work of renowned Connecticut photographer, Caryn B. Davis, Caryn B. Davis Photography.

Q: Can I have a virtual tour on my CTREAL.com listing?
A: Absolutely!  In fact, if you added your virtual tour to MLXchange, CTREAL will automatically include it on your listing.

Q: Why should I use a REALTOR®?
A: All real estate licensees are not the same. Only real estate licensees who are members of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® are properly called REALTORS®. They proudly display the REALTOR® logo on the business card or other marketing and sales literature. REALTORS® are committed to treat all parties to a transaction honestly. REALTORS® subscribe to a strict code of ethics and are expected to maintain a higher level of knowledge of the process of buying and selling real estate. An independent survey reports that 84% of home buyers would use the same REALTOR® again.

Real estate transactions involve one of the biggest financial investments most people experience in their lifetime. Transactions today usually exceed $100,000. If you had a $100,000 income tax problem, would you attempt to deal with it without the help of a CPA? If you had a $100,000 legal question, would you deal with it without the help of an attorney? Considering the small upside cost and the large downside risk, it would be foolish to consider a deal in real estate without the professional assistance of a REALTOR®. 

But if you're still not convinced of the value of a REALTOR®, here are some more reasons to use a REALTOR®.

Q: What is the benefit of my listing being on CT Statewide MLS and CTREAL.com?
A: Exposure, exposure, exposure. CT Statewide MLS is used by more REALTORS® than any other MLS in Connecticut, and CTREAL.com is the official real estate search engine of the Connecticut Association of REALTORS®, Inc. When your property is listed on CTMLS, it will be seen by REALTORS® all over the State, and depending on your preferences, immediately published on CTREAL.com. 

Q: Why isn’t my listing on CTREAL.com?
A: If you are searching for a listing you know is for sale/rent, but your search returned no results, the property may be listed by a REALTOR® who does not subscribe to the Connecticut Statewide MLS (CTMLS). Though CTMLS is the statewide MLS in Connecticut, subscription by REALTORS® is voluntary.

If you would like your listing to be available to the 13,000 REALTORS® and their clients currently using CTMLS to buy and sell property, ask your REALTOR® to join CTMLS.

Q: How is CTREAL.com being promoted to increase exposure of my listing?
A: CTREAL.com is using state-of-the-art search engine optimization as well as search engine marketing, advertising and public relations campaigns to rapidly grow awareness and traffic on the site.

Q: What’s the difference between CT Statewide MLS and other MLS systems in Connecticut?
A: CT Statewide MLS is the only multiple listing service with a mission to serve all of Connecticut and create an orderly and efficient market for all participants. Other MLS systems are confined to a local area, and because of this, listings on these other MLS systems are not exposed to the maximum number of REALTORS® and potential buyers. For more information, visit CTMLS.

Q: How do consumers and REALTORS® benefit as CT Statewide MLS expands?
A: As CTMLS expands to include all listings within the State of Connecticut, each listing will be assured of receiving the maximum exposure to interested buyers and creating the most efficient market possible (benefits expected include reducing time to sale and increasing realized price).

Q: Do you collect personally identifiable data, and how is it used?
A: As of March 12, 2008, CTREAL.com collects no personally identifiable data. If this practice changes we will update this FAQ and the privacy policy accordingly.