Mega-merger in Florida creates largest local association in US
Miami Association of Realtors and Broward, Palm Beaches and St. Lucie Realtors will combine to form a 93,000-member association — “a win for South Florida.”
The Miami Association of Realtors and Broward, Palm Beaches and St. Lucie Realtors (RWorld) are merging into one association and MLS to create the largest local Realtor association in the country with a total of about 93,000 members, the companies announced on Monday.
"Two of the strongest MLS and Realtor organizations in the U.S. are now one, building on South Florida's momentum as a global real estate powerhouse and shaping the industry's next frontier," Alfredo Pujol, chairman of the board of Miami Association of Realtors, said in a statement.
"This is a win for South Florida, our 93,000 collective members, and their clients," the chairman continued. "Our members will have broader, more fluid access to the data, tools, and services they need — without the limitations or complexity of multiple memberships. Ultimately, this will allow South Florida Realtors to deliver an even higher level of service."
How it will look: Pending approval by the National Association of Realtors, the new organization will be known as Miami and South Florida Realtors.
The merger integrates the previously 56,000-member Miami Realtors with the former 37,000-member RWorld, and together, the combined entity is more than twice the size of the next-largest association in the U.S., the companies said.
Pujol, who is chairman of the board of Miami, will serve as first chairman of the combined association's board. RWorld President Jonathan Dolphus will serve as 2026 chair-elect and 2027 chairman of the board. Katherine Arteta will be next in line as 2027 chair-elect.
Meanwhile, Teresa King Kinney, CEO of Miami, and Dionna Hall, CEO of RWorld and BeachesMLS, will serve as co-CEOs until Kinney retires at the end of 2026, capping off a 33-year run as the Miami association's leader. At that point, Hall will remain as sole CEO for the foreseeable future.
After the companies join forces, their division boards will be preserved, a press announcement explained. Miami's chief operating officer and legal counsel, Evian White De Leon, will become the merged company's COO and chief of the Miami Realtors division. RWorld's COO, Kim Hansen, will become COO of BeachesMLS and chief of RWorld division.
Increasing size, scope and connection: The merger is expected to be complete on May 11, 2026. Initially, each association will continue to operate as a separate entity until they combine "in the near future" to offer a complete data set and form the third-largest MLS in the country behind Bright MLS and the California Regional MLS, according to T3 Sixty 2025 MLS rankings. It will also become the largest MLS owned by a single U.S. Realtor association.
Members will have access to Flexmls and Matrix after the merger goes through, giving them two MLS platform options. The merger will also provide members with access to the combined company's 11 data exchanges with some of the largest MLSs in the U.S. and Canada, and the combined association plans to launch its membership in the Global Data Exchange (GDX), allowing for the cross-border exchange of public listing data, a press release said.
"This merger reflects the continued growth and evolution of the South Florida real estate market," Dolphus said in a statement. He will become the first African American chairman of the board for both Miami Realtors and RWorld.
"By bringing our organizations together, we are creating a more connected and efficient Association and MLS, one that delivers complete MLS data, expanded access to tools and services, and a simpler way for our members to do business," he continued. "Together, we're focused on helping our members become more profitable and successful in the global marketplace."
Consolidation trend continues: The merger follows the wave of consolidation to hit the real estate industry in the last few years, hitting a peak recently with Compass's acquisition of Anywhere Real Estate.
Some industry players have criticized the MLS landscape across the U.S. for having too many MLSs in place across the country, but in recent years the total number has shrunk as associations and MLSs have combined forces.
Last week, the San Antonio Board of Realtors (SABOR) and Four Rivers Association of Realtors (FRAR) announced plans to merge the two companies located in Central and South Texas.