MLS/Association News

During her NAR NXT keynote, Tracy Kasper tackled the big issues facing the association, including the Sitzer/Burnett verdict and sexual harassment accusations.

Bright MLS CEO Brian Donnellan said the verdict could be a blow to fair housing, which “should be concerning to all of us.”

Tracy Kasper addressed Realtors in a video post, offering specific advice for working with buyers and sellers, and a look ahead to other legal actions.

Nykia Wright, previously CEO of the Chicago Sun-Times, will be interim CEO. Goldberg had previously announced plans to depart in 2024.

The board wrote that this change, which takes effect in January, “represents the future of how residential real estate is transacted.”

Two cases that attracted national attention move toward a quiet conclusion, with a judge ruling that floor plans aren’t the same as building designs.

An attorney for the organization said a loss would be “bad news for consumers” and force the industry “back into the 19th century.”

As for-sale listings have declined, more MLSs are integrating rental tools that can help members sustain their business in a slower market.

The Southeast MLS Alliance and Coast 2 Coast MLS Data Share in Florida represent the latest initiatives to expand data sharing among MLSs.

In the wake of a cyberattack that knocked the Ohio MLS offline in August, the organization rushed to roll out a new system, but bugs frustrated agents.

Stop Hate In Real Estate, a collaboration between the LGBTQ+ Alliance, AREAA, NAHREP and WomanUp!, aims to fight discrimination.

NorthstarMLS CEO Tim Dain offers his tech-forward view of the future, which includes transparency, consolidation and richer listings content.

An email sent by CEO Bob Goldberg to staff on Thursday promises an independent assessment of company policies and practices.

The NAR Accountability Project and its allies laid out their four-point plan during an event outside the organization’s Chicago headquarters on Monday.

FMLS President and CEO Jeremy Crawford believes cooperation and consolidation are key to a healthy and efficient MLS network: “We are all better together.”

Nestfully, a consumer home search site launched earlier this year by the country's two largest MLSs, expands coverage with new listings.

The $3 million settlement in the buyer-broker commissions lawsuit will now move forward following updates to the terms of the agreement.

After a major real estate company reached a settlement in the Moehrl and Sitzer/Burnett cases, NAR said its commitment to defend itself remains unchanged.

NWMLS CEO Tom Hurdelbrink says brokerage expansion is changing how MLSs operate, and lawsuits could spur an industry-wide “generational and tectonic shift.”

A case filed by the Top Agent Network targeting NAR's Clear Cooperation policy was reinstated after previously being dismissed in 2021.

NAR leaders affirmed Bob Goldberg as CEO during an emergency meeting days after the association’s president resigned following sexual harassment allegations.

A proactive approach could help MLSs better manage any potential changes to their business models.

Just two days after the New York Times published claims of harassment, retaliation and intimidation at the association, Kenny Parcell has stepped down.

Allegations of sexual harassment at NAR, followed by "very emotional" calls from association employees, sparked a new initiative now gaining steam.

A New York Times article details complaints from women about NAR and its president's “predatory” behavior.

Rapattoni is gradually restoring service following a cyberattack that shut down the MLS service provider on Aug. 9.

More than 4,000 eXp Realty agents in 12 markets will be helped by NorthstarMLS, which has offered to assist other major companies as well.

CRMLS and other organizations are offering temporary access and support to agents affected by the Rapattoni shutdown, now in its second week.

MLS system provider Rapattoni has been down since midweek, leaving tens of thousands of agents unable to add listings and update information.

Two regional studies of home sales found that properties listed on the MLS sold for significantly more than homes sold off-MLS.

Member count increased by more than 6,500 in July, but the "fiercely competitive business environment" could spur attrition in the coming months.

The Midwestern MLS, which covers parts of Missouri and Illinois, is investing in REdistribute, a data revenue-share program.

Emily Chenevert, CEO of ABoR and the newly rebranded Unlock MLS, wants Austin buyers and sellers to associate "MLS" with more than just soccer.

In a letter to members, Cory Shepard vowed to lead the organization into a new chapter after the former CEO was accused of embezzlement.

Realtracs CEO Stuart White believes the MLS landscape could look very different in a post-"cooperation and compensation" future.

The association believes it will prevail in court, but also “highly encourages agents to use buyer broker agreements.”

The nation’s second-largest MLS says this move highlights the “complete flexibility” of Bright subscribers to have “transparent negotiations with clients.”

Broker-owner Adam Conrad of Perry Wellington Realty describes the challenges of navigating seven different MLSs as the slow journey to consolidation continues.

NAR's annual member profile found that agents earned more and upped their sales volume despite the market slowdown, while transaction sides held steady.

A former employee has withdrawn a lawsuit alleging she was unfairly fired after ending a relationship with the National Association of Realtors president.

MLS PIN has agreed to pay $3 million and stop requiring sellers to offer buyer-broker compensation, a practice at the core of two other major lawsuits.

A former employee has filed a lawsuit alleging she was unfairly fired after ending a relationship with National Association of Realtors President Kenny Parcell.

Bob Goldberg announced that he will leave the role with the National Association of Realtors when his current contract ends on Dec. 31, 2024.

Joint ventures and continuing consolidation may help MLSs better serve both subscribers and consumers.

REdistribute, which sells data from participating MLSs to institutional users, now covers nearly half of U.S. residential properties.

Gene Millman, the leader of Colorado's largest MLS, believes MLSs "have a bad habit of forming silos" — but by working together, they can be stronger.

The Realtor association will now require its more than 1.5 million members to complete fair housing coursework every three years.

CEOs from five of the country's largest MLSs discussed the challenges (and progress) in making MLS organizations more efficient and collaborative.

NAR has approved a proposal that would increase dues based on the inflation rate. This will raise 2024 dues to $156 (from $150).

Members of UtahRealEstate.com and New Mexico MLS will be able to see listings across the coverage areas in both states.

Frank Major is remembered as a “smart and kind” leader who served on the board of RESO and Byte Back, an organization working to close the digital divide.

During his five decades as a member of HAR and 35 years as president and CEO, Hale has driven innovation in his organization and the industry at large.

The LGBTQ+ Real Estate Alliance recently launched a consumer site that helps potential clients find an agent who understands their needs and challenges.

New England's NEREN, with coverage in seven states, is now PrimeMLS.

REdistribute, led by powerhouses Bright MLS and CRMLS, has launched with the goal of monetizing MLS data and sharing revenue back to participants.

The new home search platform, a joint venture between Bright MLS and CRMLS, aims to inspire a sense of calm and simplify the process for consumers and agents.

A new report from AREAA says Asian homeownership rates trail those of non-Hispanic whites and are comparable to equal-earning Black and Hispanic communities.

A new report from NAHREP found that Latinos formed more new households than any other demographic group in 2022 while also increasing their homeownership rate.

Gary Acosta, the organization's co-founder and CEO, is focused on advancing homeownership among the growing segment of Hispanic consumers.

At the National Association of Realtors, CEO Bob Goldberg champions the needs and interests of members that number 1.5 million.

T3 Sixty's annual report on Organized Real Estate found a 7.6% drop in the number of MLSs and a 3.8% drop among Realtor associations since 2020.

Hall, whose organization serves 41,000 members in South Florida, believes a willingness to explore new ideas is key to thriving in a changing industry.

CRMLS, Bright MLS and BeachesMLS in South Florida entered a data share agreement that gives subscribers access to "large swaths of alternate areas."

The Department of Justice said it plans to file a brief in an appeal by the Top Agent Network over NAR's Clear Cooperation policy.

Despite reaching a settlement agreement in 2020, the Department of Justice reopened a probe into NAR policies. The association fought back — and won.

Three of the nation’s largest multiple listing services — California Regional MLS, Bright MLS and REColorado — announced the joint venture for Nestfully.

A challenge to NAR's policy toward private listings will proceed in the courts, but claims of antitrust violations and consumer harm may be hard to prove.

The South Florida MLS is focused on greater collaboration "for the betterment of our collective brokers and agents."

Ryan Weyandt, CEO of the LGBTQ+ Real Estate Alliance, is on a mission to educate the agent community and increase homeownership among LGBTQ people.

Brian Donnellan, Bright’s CEO and president, says the effective use of data is key to "helping agents in their business of helping consumers."

A U.S. district court judge in Missouri denied a request for summary judgment in the ongoing court battle between NAR and a group of homesellers.

MLSs remain critical to the business of real estate, but many leaders are looking to a new era of less fragmentation and greater cooperation.

Kenny Parcell, a 25-year agent and broker, brings a passion for advocacy, service and communication to his new role as 2023 NAR president.

Lydia Pope, who leads the National Association of Real Estate Brokers, discusses narrowing the racial gap in homeownership and opening doors for Black agents.

The National Association of Realtors annual conference featured timely discussions and tips for the thousands of agents in attendance.

Undeterred by a stormy forecast and airport closures, NAR is moving forward with its annual mega-conference, betting on clear skies by opening day.

The newly formed data company, a joint venture between Bright MLS and CRMLS, will start delivering content to clients in early 2023.

Brad Bjelke was recently named the Shuttleworth MLS Executive of the Year for working to build a better marketplace.

After an initial expansion failure, one MLS has embraced a broker-focused strategy that is starting to pay off.

The California Association of Realtors is the most recent association to express regrets for past practices that marginalized groups based on race or ethnicity.

Dain took the reins of NorthstarMLS in September, overseeing an organization that works with more than 22,600 agents and brokers across two Midwest states.

Greater cooperation between MLSs — regionally and across the country — will benefit both the organizations and their members, according to industry experts.

Multiple ongoing lawsuits challenge NAR policies and longstanding real estate agent commission practices.