Create Community Pages with IDX Broker

Reviewed October 12, 2026. Original publication date retained.

Adding Community Pages to a Website is One of the Best Ways for Real Estate Agents to Get Noticed Locally

Buyers don’t buy a house, they buy a community. Being an authority on the communities you serve is key to building trust with buyers. A well-thought-out website with community pages is a great start.

The goal of any good real estate site is to generate leads, legitimize your brand, be an authority, multiply your web presence and have a home for your marketing. We call this G.L.A.M.R: Generate, Legitimacy, Authority, Multiply, Residence.

Build the page around accurate local information and useful property searches. MLS display rules, account features and brokerage requirements must be checked for your own market; adding a compensation field or installing an IDX plugin does not establish compliance by itself.

Adding community pages helps optimize your G.L.A.M.R., you can give clients useful local context alongside property search.

In the following tutorial, we will show you how to quickly set up community pages using IDX Broker, using the search options enabled in your account.

Before You Begin

Your IDX Feed

Before building listing searches, confirm your MLS approval and an active IDX Broker account. We have used IDX Broker with WordPress for years. Confirm supported MLS fields, permitted display and the search tools enabled for your account before building each community page.

IDX Broker’s current plan comparison lists Core, Engage and Elite. Do not choose a plan from old Lite/Platinum labels or assume every feature is enabled in an existing account.

Learn more about using IDX Broker

The development team at IDX Broker also holds regular webinars and tutorials for anyone wanting to learn more about their service.

Set up IDX on WordPress

Once you’ve subscribed to IDX Broker, the next step is to integrate it into your WordPress site. Start by installing the IDX Broker plugin and activating it. This connects your site to MLS listings, allowing you to display dynamic, up-to-date property data.

Use the current IMPress for IDX Broker plugin instructions when connecting WordPress. The IDX Broker dashboard provides easy access to customization tools that enhance your site’s functionality and improve the user experience for both agents and potential buyers.

Click here to see a detailed post on how to do this.

Types of communities

In any MLS region there are several types of communities. At a high level you have counties, cities, and zip codes. At a hyperlocal level you neighborhoods, including unofficial or micro neighborhoods, and subdivisions. Subdivisions may include master-planned communities, villages, retirement, golf, gated, luxury, condo, townhome, etc.

For this tutorial we will be skipping the cities and regions and we will get ‘hyperlocal’, focusing on neighborhoods and subdivisions.

Two Ways to Set Up a Community Page Using IDX

There are two basic ways to add a community page to your website:

The first is to add a WordPress page and embed it with IDX widgets.
The second option is to create an IDX subdomain page. The IDX page will live in the menu structure of your site and will have the same header and footer as the rest of the pages but it will be hosted remotely on an IDX subdomain.

Both options stream MLS data into your site and feature powerful lead capture tools. Depending on which option you choose there will be pros and cons.

WordPress Page with Embedded IDX Widgets

Pros:

You control the local writing and layout on your primary domain.
You can integrate listing widgets with a flexible page design.

Cons:

More work to create and maintain.
Widget count, scripts and images can affect page speed.
Map and search features depend on your account, configuration and available widgets.

IDX Broker Subdomain Pages

Pros:

Saved results pages can be created without building a complete WordPress layout.
Wrapper and subheader settings provide branding controls.
The listing results are hosted by the IDX provider.

Cons:

Less layout flexibility than a page you build in WordPress.
The result page uses the configured IDX domain or subdomain.
Canonical and indexing behavior must be checked; neither hosting option guarantees rankings.

Both approaches can present listing results and lead-capture tools. Choose based on reader needs, maintenance and verified public behavior.

Navigating IDX Broker Packages and MLS Data

The basic setup for an IDX community page is straightforward, but understanding how your MLS data works within IDX Broker can make the process smoother. Here are the key details based on the account level you’ve selected:

Check Your Account’s Current Search Tools

IDX Broker renamed Lite to Core in 2025. Its current comparison lists Core, Engage and Elite. Core now includes visitor Polygon Map Search and the Home Atlas template; older accounts may need to enable newer features.

Visitor-drawn map searches and an administrator-created Polygon Saved Link are different controls. Check whether the Saved Link option used below is enabled in your account instead of inferring it from an old package name. Core update · Map/template settings

Understanding MLS Data

Use the actual MLS fields and your broker’s permitted data access to validate the final search. Public portals can suggest names to investigate, but they are not authoritative boundary or MLS-field sources.

Before building out your community pages, explore the data fields available in your MLS. Cities are typically easy to work with as they’re a standard field. However, communities within cities (like neighborhoods or subdivisions) can be more challenging.

Neighborhood Field: If your MLS includes a neighborhood field, it will make creating neighborhood pages easier. If not, you’ll likely need to rely on subdivision data.
Subdivision Field: MLSs sometimes handle neighborhoods and subdivisions differently. Some may categorize neighborhoods within subdivisions, while others may not. It’s important to carefully review these fields to ensure you’re working with the right data.

Pro Tip: It’s worth noting that a subdivision name may not be the same as the name listed in the MLS. For example, if you have a subdivision called ‘Meadow Highlands’, you might assume the subdivision to be labeled as such. If however, the ‘Meadow Highlands’ subdivision resides in a larger community, that name may also be incorporated in the field name. Subdivision names may also be abbreviated or include building numbers.

If you want to put together a community page that focuses on a subdivision with multiple buildings you may need to select multiple subdivision names.

You’ll get a good sense of how the data is organized when you see it in your IDX account backend.

Making the Most of Polygon Search

If Polygon Saved Links are enabled in your account, the polygon search feature can help define a local search area. Rather than relying solely on predefined MLS data, you can draw custom boundaries around neighborhoods, subdivisions, or even unofficial/micro-neighborhoods.

Define Your Own Borders: Sometimes a community may span multiple cities or have loosely defined borders. Using polygon search, you can create custom borders to represent the area exactly how you want. This flexibility is ideal for neighborhoods with multiple interpretations, like Meadowdale, which overlaps both Edmonds and Lynnwood, depending on the source.
Unofficial Neighborhoods: Polygon search is particularly useful for unofficial or micro-neighborhoods that may not have an official MLS designation. For example, Tangletown in Seattle is considered part of Wallingford in MLS listings, but locals know it as its own distinct community. By using polygon search, you can capture these hyperlocal areas and set yourself apart from other real estate agents.

Pro Tips for Working with MLS Data

Watch for subdivision spelling errors or variations in names when creating community pages.
If MLS data isn’t available for specific neighborhoods, consider using tools like Zillow or Redfin to research subdivisions and identify missing data.
The Zillow trick: Use Zillow’s map and listing details to gather subdivision names when your MLS lacks a dedicated neighborhood field.

Building a Page with Advanced Search

To build a criteria-based Saved Link, first confirm that the search page and required MLS fields are available in your account. First, log into your IDX dashboard and navigate to the Design tab.

Under Website, select Saved Links to begin building your community pages.

Step 2: Select Your Criteria.

From here you will have a list to ‘Select Your Criteria’. To keep it simple we will just focus on neighborhoods, unofficial neighborhoods, and subdivisions..

2.1 Adding a neighborhood page:

If your MLS has a neighborhood field you can select it from the list. Simply begin typing in the name and the neighborhood should show up.

If there is no neighborhood field you can check with IDX Broker to see if one is available to be added.

If there is not one available you will need to refer to the subdivisions. The only problem is you will need to know the names of the subdivisions. Without a list the easiest way to do this is using the ‘Zillow Trick’:

Pro Tip: “The Zillow trick”. If there is no neighborhood field available you will need to get a little creative. The easiest way is to use Zillow. Zillow has invested millions ingesting and normalizing MLS data and it’s all there to see, for free.

Simply go to Zillow and search for the neighborhood you want to create a page for. They will have a map and listings for the area. From the map go through each of the listings and look for the listed subdivisions. You should be able to get most of the subdivisions this way.

There is a chance a subdivision may not be listed at the time you are doing this so it’s not a bad idea to revisit this from time to time.

I did this recently for the Shore Acres neighborhood in St Petersburg Florida and got a return of 15 subdivisions using this method.

On the off chance Zillow doesn’t feature your neighborhood try a competing site like Redfin or Trulia. If that doesn’t work, Google it.

2.2 Unofficial/Micro neighborhoods:

This one is tricky and much better suited for a polygon search. If unofficial neighborhood happens to be made up of subdivisions and you know the names then you should be set. Otherwise you will need to refer back to the ‘Zillow trick’.

The Zillow trick doesn’t always work though. I tried this method for the unofficial neighborhood Tangletown that I mentioned earlier. I found one listing on Zillow which referenced Wallingford as the neighborhood. The search picked up Tangletown in the description data but listed no subdivision.

If I were to want to build a page for this unofficial, or micro neighborhood I would need the Polygon search to really do it justice. I would also need to decide whether it was worth adding to begin with.

2.3 Subdivisions:

Watch for these, sometimes there are spelling errors and multiple versions of the same name. A subdivision made up of multiple buildings with units may be listed separately. I’ve seen subdivisions with the same building listed three times because a unit number was included or there was a spelling error.

Once you’ve selected your neighborhood or subdivisions click on the ‘View Results in New Window’ button. You will see a page view with a map. Be sure to verify that the neighborhoods or subdivisions you’ve selected are correct. If the map shows a listing that is far away from the area you are trying to represent check the listings details to see what the subdivision is listed as. An MLS may have multiple subdivisions with similar names. If you find one that doesn’t belong just go back to the page and delete it from the list.

2.4 Once you are satisfied with your selection click on the ‘Next Step’ button.

Building a Page with Polygon Saved Links

Setting up a Page Using Polygon Search

The community-page workflow

Define

Choose the area and verify the MLS fields or map boundary.

Search

Create the Saved Link and inspect the returned properties.

Explain

Add a useful title, description and local subheader.

Test

Open the public page and check the listings, wrapper and contact route.

Polygon Saved Link documentation describes the map controls. Use the options present in your account.

If your account provides Polygon Saved Links, you can create a hyperlocal results page by drawing a search boundary. Verify that the selected area and returned listings match your intended community.

Here’s how to set up a page:

Step 2: Select Your Criteria.

A map will appear for you to define the borders of your community.

On the top left side of the map you have the zoom in/zoom out buttons. Zoom out and move the map manually to find your community.

Pro Tip: If you don’t know the borders for the community you want to outline simply Google the neighborhood and search for a site that has already mapped the area.

Neighborhoods.com covers a lot of the major metropolitan areas and features maps of most of their communities. Zillow is also a great reference for maps but a little less consistent with how they are outlined.

2.1 Find your starting point:

Once you have located the area you will be ready to draw your outline. On the left side of the map there will be two buttons containing a polygon and a circle shape.

The circle option selects a circular area, often used to show homes within a certain distance of a specific location.

The Polygon option is used to draw custom boundaries around an area. We will be using the polygon option as it offers the flexibility we need for our communities.

With the polygon option selected find a good starting point on your map and click to set your first marker.

2.2 Placing the next marker:

Now, find the second point on your map and click to add another marker.

Pro Tip: If you make a mistake when laying out your border markers you can select ‘Delete last point’ from the polygon editor. Click once for each point you want to delete. Or select ‘Cancel’ to start over.

2.3 The rest of the map:

Repeat this step around the area you want to select. If the area is a square you will just need to select the four corners. If the area has an unusual shape you may need to place several incremental points through the map to get everything.

2.4 Close your outline:

When you have selected the areas you intend to outline you will need to close the outline by selecting the first point. Your community should now be outlined.

Pro Tip: When you build a page using the polygon search you are creating a location based query. Each point you add is a coordinate based on the latitude and longitude. These coordinates are added to the query which can get rather long and create a problem with some browsers. Not to worry, you’ll get a helpful message if you exceed the recommended length. If it’s too long try removing a few of the points to simplify your outline.

2.5 Editing your map

If your map isn’t perfect don’t worry, you can easily edit it. On the left side of the map towards the bottom of the button options there is an edit and a trash option.

Select trash if you want to delete your selection and start over. Select the edit to see the map points you’ve laid out. You can select any point and drag it to the desired spot. If you do not like the edits, use Cancel. When the boundary is correct, use the Save button next to the Edit Tool, then check the resulting search.

2.6 Additional filtering:

With your area completed you can now add any additional filtering you’d like such as Property Type, price ranges, bedrooms, etc.

2.7 Once you have set your filtering click on ‘Next Step’.

Adding New Pages to Your WordPress Site

Repeat the search setup for each additional community. In the Saved Links list, use Preview and copy the resulting URL. Add it as a WordPress navigation link or a contextual link on your community page; if your theme/plugin exposes IDX Pages in its menu editor, that is another option.

Edit Saved Link criteria in IDX Broker, then retest the public URL. A missing WordPress menu entry is not proof that the Saved Link failed; use the preview URL and the current IMPress plugin documentation.

Check the final domain: Verify HTTPS, wrapper header/footer, map results and inquiry routes on the approved public address. Clear relevant caches after edits when needed. Going live does not automatically fix every wrapper or map configuration. Wrapper troubleshooting.

Summary

Community pages can combine useful local information with verified property-search results. Their value depends on the accuracy of the content, the search configuration and the public page experience.

With IDX Broker, you can create tailored, data-driven pages that improve user experience. This gives you a competitive edge in the market.

Features like polygon search and customization tools make it easier to build hyperlocal pages that stand out.

Let us know if you have any questions or need further assistance!

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FAQ: IDX Broker Community Pages

Which IDX Broker plan should I check?

Those are legacy package labels. The current comparison lists Core, Engage and Elite. Confirm your account’s actual features, including visitor map search and administrator Saved Link tools, against the provider’s current documentation.

How does the Polygon Search work?

Polygon Search allows you to outline specific areas on a map to display listings within custom-defined neighborhoods, subdivisions, or unofficial/micro-communities.

Can I change my IDX Broker plan?

Ask IDX Broker about the current upgrade options for your account and verify features and fees before changing plans. Do not make an upgrade decision from old plan names.

How do I add community pages to my WordPress site?

You can either embed IDX widgets into WordPress pages or use IDX subdomain pages. Both options stream MLS data and include lead capture tools.

What is the best way to create hyperlocal community pages?

Use the search tool that matches your area and data. MLS neighborhood/subdivision fields may work for an established community; a Polygon Saved Link can help with a custom boundary where your account supports it. Validate the results either way.

How do I use MLS data fields for community pages?

Look for neighborhood or subdivision fields in your MLS. If your MLS doesn’t include these fields, use subdivision data or rely on tools like Zillow for additional research.

How can I ensure my IDX community pages are SEO-friendly?

Write useful local explanations, use accurate titles and descriptions, and check public access, canonicals and indexing rules. WordPress and IDX-hosted pages have different controls; neither format guarantees rankings. Community-page planning guide.

3 Comments

PMangatram Developers says:

December 8, 2021 at 11:28 pm

Very useful information. Thank you for sharing.

Aadarsh Roy says:

December 21, 2021 at 2:49 am

Hey Jason Fox,

Aadarsh this side. It is my first time commenting on your blog page and am glad to say that you have shared an excellent content providing great tips for creating real estate community page with Idx broker. I appreciate the way you have explained and presented things along with helpful steps that are so clear to understand. Your each listed steps are well-elaborated and easy to follow. Considering your steps will be helpful.

After reading this guide i gain ideas and am sure that this post will surely help lots of people & readers.

Very informative and keep sharing more similar post.

Thanks,
-Aadarsh

Rami Reddy says:

February 24, 2022 at 1:05 am

Thank you for sharing useful and very informative content. keep posting more content

DIY: How to Create a Real Estate Community Page with IDX Broker

Adding Community Pages to a Website is One of the Best Ways for Real Estate Agents to Get Noticed Locally