The NIC MAP custom connector lets ChatGPT call the NIC MAP system directly from inside your ChatGPT account. Once it's enabled, you can ask ChatGPT questions in plain English and have it pull live NIC MAP senior housing data into the answer — market analyses, competitive sets, occupancy and rent trends, sales comparables, construction pipeline, and more — without leaving the chat.
How it works
The connector is a Model Context Protocol (MCP) endpoint hosted by NIC MAP. You add it to ChatGPT as a custom app and sign in with your existing NIC MAP credentials over OAuth, so every request is authorized against your NIC MAP entitlements. There are no separate API keys and no shared service accounts.
What you'll need
A ChatGPT Business, Enterprise, or Edu plan with developer mode / custom connectors enabled. On Business and Enterprise plans, a workspace owner or admin must allow custom connectors before they appear.
NIC MAP credentials — the same email and password you use to sign in to nicmap.com.
The Apps & connectors area of ChatGPT Settings, where custom MCP apps are added per user.
Connector URL: https://api.nicmap.com/mcp — name it NIC MAP when you add it.
A note on admin approval: Unlike Claude, ChatGPT has no separate org-wide connector install — each user adds the NIC MAP app to their own account. On Business/Enterprise plans, an admin simply needs to enable custom connectors once so the option is available to everyone.
Adding the connector
Open your account menu and click Settings. In the bottom-left corner of ChatGPT, click your profile to open the account menu, then click Settings.
Open the Apps tab and click Advanced settings. In Settings, select Apps (also shown as Apps & connectors) from the left sidebar. Enable Developer mode if prompted so you can add a custom MCP app, then click Create app.
Fill in the New App dialog and click Create. Set Connection to Server URL and paste the NIC MAP URL. Choose OAuth authentication. ChatGPT will warn that custom MCP servers introduce risk — review it, tick I understand and want to continue, then click Create.
Enter these values exactly:
Name: NIC MAP
URL: https://api.nicmap.com/mcp
Authentication: OAuthClick "Sign in with NIC MAP" to authorize. ChatGPT shows the Add NIC MAP to ChatGPT authorization screen. Click Sign in with NIC MAP to start the OAuth flow, review the privacy and permissions notes, then continue.
Sign in with your NIC MAP credentials — you're live. Enter the email and password you use for nicmap.com and click Login to Portal. You'll be redirected back to ChatGPT with NIC MAP connected. This is a standard OAuth flow, so ChatGPT never sees or stores your password. Toggle the NIC MAP app on from the composer to use it in any chat.
Try one of these prompts:
"Produce an analysis of the senior housing market opportunity around 2105 Blue Oak Terrace."
"Pull the construction pipeline for the Atlanta CBSA and summarize inventory growth risk."
Troubleshooting & support
A few quick checks that resolve almost every issue we've seen so far.
Issue | What to do |
I don't see a "Create app" or developer option | Custom connectors must be enabled for your workspace. On Business/Enterprise, ask a workspace owner or admin to allow custom connectors / developer mode under Apps & connectors. Personal plans may not support custom MCP apps. |
OAuth says "invalid credentials" | Use the same email and password you use for nicmap.com. If you've never set a password, request one via the Forgot password / Contact Us link on the NIC MAP login screen or email [email protected]. |
ChatGPT doesn't seem to use NIC MAP data | Make sure the NIC MAP app is toggled on in the chat composer for that conversation, and try a prompt that explicitly mentions senior housing data or a specific property / CBSA. |
The connector risk warning worries me | ChatGPT shows a standard risk notice for all custom MCP servers. NIC MAP is the publisher of this endpoint, and it only returns data you're already entitled to under your NIC MAP subscription. |
Still stuck? Contact the client success team at [email protected].