MRED opens access to all agents — with Compass the first to join 

Midwest Real Estate Data (MRED) is expanding access to all licensed agents nationwide, the Chicago-based MLS announced today — and Compass International Holdings (CIH) is the first brokerage to jump on board.

MRED, which operates its own private listing network, was recently praised by Compass CEO Robert Reffkin. In a joint open letter, CIH and Rocket Companies criticized MLSs that are "actively working against the interests" of agents by imposing restrictions on exclusive listings and pre-marketing — and fining agents who violate those rules. MRED, he wrote in a follow-up post on LinkedIn, is among a handful of MLSs "that have all built seller-choice frameworks into their rules." 

And now the MLS is opening that framework to everyone. 

All are welcome: The addition of CIH's listings would make a significant contribution to the MLS's database, MRED CEO Rebecca Jensen said during a call with Real Estate News, but she hopes agents affiliated with other brokerages will also take the opportunity to join and explore all of the MLS's listing options, not necessarily just its private listings, which often garner the most attention.

MRED, which already serves 15 Realtor associations across multiple states, has been in talks with other brokerages that expressed an interest in receiving the types of MLS services it offers, Jensen added. Those conversations — coupled with Compass' interest — helped spur the decision to open their services nationwide.

Choice and control — for agents: While Reffkin has often spoken about seller choice, MRED's announcement focused on agents, saying it "provides more choices for agents when representing their clients, without the MLS requiring any particular marketing of their property."

Beyond offering a PLN option, MRED noted that it allows agents to have more control over their publicly marketed listings — specifically the display of price history and days on market, which Compass has referred to as "negative insights" that disadvantage sellers.

The MLS also said it would protect agents using its PLN "from being banned or penalized by third party portals and IDX feed recipients" — likely a reference to Zillow, which began banning selectively marketed listings last June following the launch of its new Listing Access Standards. 

Another outlet for Compass listings: CIH, currently the only participating brokerage, will share all of its inventory — both publicly and exclusively marketed listings — with MRED's PLN users, the company said. The move follows a listings partnership with Redfin announced in February.

As an incentive to its agents, Compass said it will also take on some of the subscriber costs for the first 100,000 Compass agents "to join MRED as full members." 

The brokerage has been known to foot the bill for its agents in the past. Last year, when Reffkin encouraged agents to deploy Compass' 3-phased marketing plan in Seattle — where pre-marketing is prohibited under Northwest MLS rules — he said the brokerage would pay any fines resulting from violations of NWMLS policies.

MRED's longstanding PLN: "MRED has been providing sellers with options and buyers with transparency through our Private Listing Network for a decade," Jensen said in a news release, adding that "the MLS is meant to facilitate cooperation" — but should not "dictate marketing or business model practices." 

MRED came under fire from Zillow in November, with the search portal publishing data suggesting that the MLS's PLN amplified racial disparities in access to housing in the region (claims MRED denied).  

Jensen has vehemently defended her organization's strategy, describing the PLN as "one of our most human-centered innovations" in an open letter to MRED members last fall. 

"The PLN allows us to respond with compassion and options, not threats and strict fines to the listing broker trying to help families navigate their home sale during a difficult time," she wrote in November.

Jensen acknowledged that this latest announcement might create friction with other MLSs across the country, but she emphasized that MRED's responsibility is to listen to brokers — and they're telling her that sellers want more options.