I got hooked up with IDX Broker last spring and went live with their great Triangle Real Estate IDX solution in April.  In celebration, I added IDX links to all my Neighborhoods blogs.  On my site, on AR, on Trulia.  Lots of work, but kind of cool.

And I did not notice a rule change that took effect on May 20, 2009, as per this edited selection from the TMLS Summer, 2009, Newsletter:

"Does Your Website Offer to Let Consumers "Search the MLS"?  (Hint:  Mine USED to...)

A rule regarding the use of terms "MLS" and "Multiple Listing Service" was added to the Triangle MLS rules and regulations, effective May 20, 2009. Section 4.4 of the TMLS rules states, "Participants, subscribers and licensees affiliated with Participants shall not represent, suggest, or imply that consumers or others have direct access to MLS databases, or that consumers or others are able to search MLS databases available only to Participants and subscribers."

Terms such as "Search the MLS" or "Search MLS Listings" imply that consumers have direct access to the private Triangle MLS database. These links on your website actually direct consumers to search a database of listings that reside on your web vendor's server. It is not the Triangle MLS database. Accepted alternative phrases to title the links on your website include: "Home Search," "Search Properties," "Search Listings," "Search Area Listings," and "Find a Home." "

FINES?  All I could think of was, "Just the Facts, Man," and "Awww, Don't let my Ma see the cuffs!"

And last weekend I tackled a few hundred blog posts, and links, and titles to links, and other references and cleaned out verboten verbage.  Now when I Google and Bing "Search the MLS," I don't see myself except in cached pages.  That work took many hours. 

And I realized that the change in the Town of Cary's website killed several links I have to parks and other information.  More work to do.  Dead links on my site?  Bleah....

But, anyway, now you can search for your new home or building lot, or rental complex on my site.  I just don't want to imply that you have direct access to the Triangle MLS database.