IndieMLS

MLS property data API built for solo proptech hackers—no enterprise hurdles.

Score: 7.5/10RWMedium BuildReady to Spawn
Brand Colors

The Opportunity

Problem

Solo proptech indie hackers can't compete with funded startups because time constraints prevent them from building comparable features.

Solution

IndieMLS provides instant access to normalized MLS data via simple API endpoints, letting solo devs embed advanced property search without weeks of integrations or sales calls. It handles data freshness, compliance, and caching so you focus on your unique app features. Compete with funded teams by launching searchable listings in days.

Target Audience

Solo indie hackers building proptech (property technology) products

Differentiator

Tailored for indie hackers: pay-per-use with free tier, one-click Supabase integration, and proptech-specific normalizations.

Brand Voice

supportive

Features

API Key Dashboard

must-have8h

Generate and manage API keys with usage analytics.

Property Search Endpoint

must-have20h

Query MLS data by location, price, beds/baths with filters.

Data Normalization

must-have15h

Standardizes fields across MLS sources for consistent output.

Usage Analytics

must-have12h

Track queries, errors, and costs in real-time dashboard.

Webhook Notifications

must-have10h

Push updates on new listings or price changes.

Custom Field Mapping

nice-to-have8h

Map MLS fields to your schema via UI.

Historical Data Export

nice-to-have6h

Download CSV of past queries.

AI Listing Summaries

nice-to-have12h

Generate short descriptions from data.

Total Build Time: 91 hours

Database Schema

users

ColumnTypeNullable
iduuidNo
emailtextNo
api_key_hashtextNo

api_keys

ColumnTypeNullable
iduuidNo
user_iduuidNo
keytextNo
queries_usedintNo
created_attimestampNo

Relationships:

  • user_id references users(id)

query_logs

ColumnTypeNullable
iduuidNo
api_key_iduuidNo
endpointtextNo
paramsjsonbYes
response_timeintNo

Relationships:

  • api_key_id references api_keys(id)

mls_feeds

ColumnTypeNullable
iduuidNo
sourcetextNo
last_syncedtimestampYes
statustextNo

API Endpoints

GET
/api/properties/search

Search MLS listings by filters

🔒 Auth Required
POST
/api/keys

Generate new API key

🔒 Auth Required
GET
/api/usage

Fetch usage stats

🔒 Auth Required
POST
/api/webhooks

Setup listing update webhooks

🔒 Auth Required

Tech Stack

Frontend
Next.js 14 + Tailwind + shadcn/ui
Backend
Next.js API routes + Supabase Edge Functions
Database
Supabase Postgres
Auth
Supabase Auth
Payments
Stripe
Hosting
Vercel
Additional Tools
Resend (emails)Vercel Postgres (cache)MLS API proxies

Build Timeline

Week 1: Auth & Dashboard

25h
  • User signup/login
  • API key gen
  • Basic dashboard

Week 2: Core API

30h
  • Search endpoint
  • Data normalization

Week 3: Analytics & Logs

25h
  • Usage charts
  • Query logging

Week 4: Payments & Polish

20h
  • Stripe integration
  • Playground tester
  • Landing page

Week 5: Webhooks & Deploy

15h
  • Webhook setup
  • Prod deploy
  • Docs
Total Timeline: 5 weeks • 135 hours

Pricing Tiers

Free

$0/mo

No webhooks

  • 100 queries/mo
  • Basic search
  • 1 API key

Pro

$37/mo
  • 10k queries/mo
  • All endpoints
  • Webhooks
  • Priority support

Enterprise

$97/mo
  • 100k queries/mo
  • Custom feeds
  • SLA
  • On-prem option

Revenue Projections

MonthUsersConversionMRRARR
Month 11502%$111$1,332
Month 68005%$1,480$17,760

Unit Economics

$45
CAC
$444
LTV
5%
Churn
92%
Margin
LTV:CAC Ratio: 9.9xExcellent!

Landing Page Copy

MLS Data for Solo Proptech Builders

Skip the enterprise sales—get normalized property data in your app today.

Feature Highlights

One-click API integration
Fresh MLS data daily
Usage-based pricing
Built for Next.js/Supabase

Social Proof (Placeholders)

"'Saved me 2 weeks of integrations!' — Indie Hacker"
"'Finally, MLS without the hassle.' — Proptech Solo Dev"

First Three Customers

Post detailed case study on Indie Hackers forum targeting proptech threads, DM 10 active proptech indie hackers on Twitter with free Pro access offer, and share in r/proptech with a 'built this for us solos' hook.

Launch Channels

Indie HackersProduct Huntr/indiehackersTwitter #proptechHacker News

SEO Keywords

proptech mls apiindie mls datasolo proptech listings apieasy mls integration

Competitive Analysis

Attom Data

attomdata.com
Enterprise quotes
Strength

Comprehensive data

Weakness

Sales process, high min spend

Our Advantage

Self-serve for indies at $37/mo

Realty Mole

realty-mole.com
$99+/mo
Strength

Clean API

Weakness

No free tier, limited filters

Our Advantage

Proptech-focused normalizations + webhooks

🏰 Moat Strategy

Proprietary MLS proxy integrations and indie-specific caching layer for speed.

⏰ Why Now?

Proptech indie wave + open MLS data trends post-2023 NAR settlement.

Risks & Mitigation

legalmedium severity

MLS data compliance changes

Mitigation

Multi-source fallback + legal review

technicallow severity

API rate limits exceeded

Mitigation

Smart caching + user quotas

marketmedium severity

Low indie proptech adoption

Mitigation

Validate via IH surveys

Validation Roadmap

pre-build3 days

IH poll: 'Would you pay $37 for MLS API?'

Success: 20+ yes votes

mvp14 days

Beta with 5 indies, track queries

Success: 500 queries/week

Pivot Options

  • General real estate data API
  • Rental-specific MLS filter
  • Proptech job board

Quick Stats

Build Time
135h
Target MRR (6 mo)
$2,000
Market Size
$50.0M
Features
8
Database Tables
4
API Endpoints
4