FMLS, MARIS to share data; a new leader at Bluegrass Realtors 

Editor's note: From regional and statewide players to locals focused on a single market, multiple listings services and Realtor associations are the backbone of residential real estate. Here we highlight some of the latest news about the organizations that are shaping the future of the industry.

Regional MLS powerhouses ink data-share agreement

Two of the largest multiple listing services in the southeastern U.S. have formed a data-sharing partnership to expand subscriber access to listing information, the organizations announced today. 

First Multiple Listing Service (FMLS), which covers much of Georgia and serves more than 57,000 subscribers, and Mid-America Regional Information Systems (MARIS), which serves over 15,000 members in Missouri and Illinois, have enabled a two-way connection that gives users direct access to properties across the MLSs' combined coverage areas.

The move "reflects a broader shift in real estate toward greater collaboration among MLS organizations and a more connected experience for professionals and consumers," the MLSs said in a news release.

"MLS organizations should be looking for ways to work together that make it easier for professionals to serve consumers," Jeremy Crawford, president and CEO of FMLS, said in the announcement. Crawford noted that "real estate clients don't think about MLS boundaries when they're deciding where to live, work or invest" — and agents shouldn't be limited either. 

"This partnership with MARIS helps remove those boundaries for real estate professionals. By bringing this listing data directly into the MLS platforms they already use, we're giving agents a more efficient way to serve their clients while creating new opportunities for collaboration and referrals across markets," Crawford said. 

This is the latest of several data-sharing partnerships FMLS has formed. Earlier this year, the MLS established a three-way agreement with Greater Chattanooga Realtors and ValleyMLS, and it previously signed deals with MLSs in neighboring Alabama and other U.S. regions.

Kentucky MLS appoints new CEO

Brendan Bailey has taken the helm at Bluegrass Realtors and Imagine MLS, the organizations announced last week. Bailey replaces Katrina Bowers, the association's chief operating officer, who had been serving as interim CEO following the departure of former CEO Richard Gibbens. Gibbens held the role for just over a year. 

Bailey brings an extensive background in organized real estate to the Lexington-based association and MLS, most recently serving as CEO of the Denver Metro Association of Realtors. He previously led the Massachusetts-based Realtor Association of Pioneer Valley, served as COO at Raleigh Regional Association of Realtors in North Carolina and was NAR's first vice president for 2023, according to a news release. Prior to entering the real estate industry, Bailey held advocacy and policy roles at the state and federal levels.

"Brendan brings a combination of leadership experience, industry knowledge, and a genuine commitment to the Realtor mission," Bluegrass Realtors President Mike Inman said in the announcement. 

"We look forward to the fresh perspective and new ideas he will bring as we continue building on the strength of our organizations," Inman added. 

Bailey's hiring comes on the heels of two recent partnerships that added more than 800 subscribers to Imagine MLS, which serves over 4,000 real estate professionals across Kentucky. In late May, the MLS partnered with Western Kentucky Regional MLS and the Hopkinsville Christian & Todd County Association of Realtors as part of a regional consolidation effort.