Okay, this is filed under Frequently Asked Questions but, really, I don't get that many requests from someone about buying their own MLS number. I did today! 
The woman who asked the question is a professional in the academic field so would have no reason to know anything about the MLS, how it was formed, who maintains it, or how it operates. Her question was a perfectly legitimate effort to attain knowledge and I was happy to contribute to her edification.
Apparently the woman's husband had been told (by a well meaning friend) that one could purchase their own MLS number, thereby avoiding the commission charged by a real estate agent. If you imagine that you know nothing about real estate, this actually sounds quite reasonable, doesn't it?
But it's not and here's why: Multiple Listing Services (MLS's) are tools used by professional real estate agents and brokers to communicate with one another the status of all property listings. One has to be a member of their local MLS in order to participate. One has to be licensed with the State Board and pay dues to become a member of an MLS. Often, members are also required to belong to Local, State, and/or National Real Estate Associations before being allowed to participate. When a licensed, paying member of an MLS enters a new listing into the MLS, they are given a number for that listing; that's the MLS number. The property is for sale but not the MLS number.
And MLS's have rules. 
Our MLS has 28 pages of Rules & Regulations. These rules and regulations cover Listing Procedures, Selling Procedures, Prohibitions, Division of Commissions, Participant in Transaction, Membership and Service Charges, Compliance With Rules, Meetings, Enforcement of Rules Or Disputes, Confidentiality of MLS Data, Responsibility for Accuracy of Data, Ownership of Heartland MLS Compilations and Copyright, Use of Copyrighted MLS Compilations, Internet Data Exchange (IDX), Use of MLS Information, Arbitration of Disputes, Standards of Conduct, Definitions, Virtual Office Websites (VOW), and Changes in Rules and Regulations.
As members of MLS, we are required to adhere to all rules, regulations, and procedures. If an agent does not adhere to the rules, that agent is subject to discipline including fines, suspension, and expulsion. Suspension from one's MLS would put a serious crimp in one's ability to earn a living. Depending upon the violation, they might also be subject to disciplinary action by the State Board.
Most professions have websites specific to their profession that they access to perform actions, look up results, or share information. Doctors, nurses, attorneys, engineers, geologists, scientists, teachers, accountants, detectives, arson investigators - all professions of which I'm aware have websites that are not open to the general public.
Many professions, real estate included, allow visitors to access portions of their site. The parts of the site to which the general public is allowed does not contain privileged or confidential information. It is made available to the public as a courtesy for the purpose of giving them accurate and up to date information.
This is what the MLS is in real estate, too. The part that the general public is allowed to access does not contain privileged or confidential information. It contains information that the public finds useful. The information is up to date and accurate because it's members are required to keep it so.
So, once the caller today understood what the MLS is, she said "Oh, well, in that case, I think it's best that I call a professional real estate agent." She was not from the Kansas City area so I gave her the name and number of an Active Rain member in New Jersey.
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