How to Get Real Estate Data: 5 Ways
Don't start by asking "where's the data" — start with what you're doing. Here's the right source for each goal.
"I want to analyze a whole area" → a bulk dataset
Download the property records as a file and work with them locally — no rate limits, no per-request cost. RealEstateDataset gives you ~146M U.S. properties free (CC0), by state, county or ZIP, as Parquet or CSV. Best for research, modeling, and offline analysis.
"I'm building an app" → an API
When you need data inside software — current, one property at a time — use an API. The Straply API is built from this same dataset, with a free tier, per-property lookups, and a real-time feed. Best for products that must stay fresh.
"I want market trends" → aggregate datasets
For medians, inventory, and price trends by region over time, free aggregate market datasets exist. Note these are summaries, not individual property records — a different shape of data than a property dataset.
"I'm a licensed agent" → the MLS
Active-listing detail lives in the MLS, but it's gated to licensed brokerages. If you qualify, work with your local MLS; if not, use public-records data instead.
"I just need one parcel" → county records
Every county publishes free assessor and recorder records — perfect for a single lookup, impractical across a region because they're fragmented across thousands of systems. See what property records are.
Frequently asked
What's the easiest way to get real estate data?
Do I need to pay for real estate data?
Can I get real estate data without coding?