The MLS dilemma: Resist — or join — the pre-marketing movement
While the Council of Multiple Listing Services has decried private listings, some MLSs have adopted policies that look a lot like Compass’ 3-phased approach.
May 15, 2026
MLS/Association News
The organizations, policies and decisions that guide residential real estate.
- Realtracs opens MLS service nationallyThe Tennessee-based MLS announced it would expand its service across the U.S., following in the footsteps of Chicago’s MRED.April 30, 2026
- A new 3-way data share in the Southeast; 2 MLSs partner with BPPGeorgia, Tenn. and Alabama MLSs team up. Plus, Broker Public Portal to power home search for Northstar, Metrolist; Illinois Realtors partners with MRED; more.April 30, 2026
- The MLS ‘isn’t really dead after all,’ CRMLS CEO saysCRMLS CEO Art Carter and Bright MLS CEO Brian Donnellan grapple with how to respond as more brokers seek alternatives to the MLS to promote their listings.April 30, 2026
More in MLS/Assn
- NAR is ‘not in the business anymore of creating chaos,’ CEO saysNykia Wright discusses the association’s derisking strategy, why the three-way agreement is an “important authoritative asset” and NAR’s long path ahead.April 23, 2026
- NAR touts early progress on strategic plan ‘built for action’The association said it had made headway on two-thirds of the plan’s projects within the first quarter of implementation.April 21, 2026
- Mega-merger in Florida creates largest local association in USMiami 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.”April 20, 2026
- Who owns listing data? Brokers do, Realtracs saysThe Tennessee MLS unveiled two new broker agreements this week that clarify listing data ownership and compensate brokers for the value their data creates.April 17, 2026
- 2 Texas associations to merge; MLS alliance expands in FloridaMembers will vote soon on a SABOR-FRAR merger. Plus, Southeast MLS Alliance adds realMLS; Florida orgs dismissed from lawsuit; UCO expands MLS pitch overseas.Updated April 15, 2026
- US now has over 10M Hispanic homeowners — a new recordWith over 1M new Hispanic households formed just last year, “the influence of Latino buyers will only grow over time,” NAHREP 2026 President Edwin Acevedo said.April 7, 2026
- Why an agent must be more than an ‘unopinionated order-taker’Real estate professionals have an obligation to put their clients’ best interests first. Sometimes, that means telling them their inclinations may be wrong.April 6, 2026
- NAR’s committee overhaul continues with a focus on ‘expertise’A new “Expertise Profile” will now be part of the application process. “We want members with the right experience, ideas and leadership,” NAR’s president said.April 2, 2026
- NAR vows to ‘evolve’ governance, announces committee reductionsEight of the association’s 95-plus committees will be sunset this year in “an important first step” toward increasing efficiency, NAR’s president said.April 1, 2026
- Louisiana judge dismisses NAR 3-way agreement lawsuitThe ruling in the mandatory membership case ends most claims against NAR and local associations, but federal claims against an MLS exec could be refiled.March 26, 2026
- ARMLS adopts new independent board modelThe new structure will allow for “more objective, forward-looking decisions,” according to the Arizona-based MLS — and lower the risk of future litigation.March 26, 2026
- CRMLS to ‘give revenue back’; a tech upgrade for BeachesMLSThe California MLS will start redistributing listing data revenue to brokerages next month. Plus, a brand refresh for IRES; RACI partners with TrustFunds.March 20, 2026
- MRED MLS moves to make association membership optionalOn March 19, the large Midwest MLS’s board will consider dropping association membership as a requirement for MLS data access.March 18, 2026
- After months of talks, RESO and CMLS step away from mergerThe orgs, both key to the MLS ecosystem, decided against forming a joint entity, saying structural and governance differences outweighed potential benefits.March 16, 2026
- MLS, local association counts drop as consolidation acceleratesThe number of MLSs operating in the U.S. fell below 500 in 2025 — a 43% drop from a decade earlier, according to T3 Sixty’s 2026 Organized Real Estate Indices.March 4, 2026
- Industry icon to retire after 3+ decades as Miami Realtors CEOTeresa King Kinney announced plans to depart at the end of the year, capping a career that has spanned some of real estate’s most disruptive periods.February 20, 2026
- OneKey chooses BPP for home search; HAR partnership expands reachBroker Public Portal will power the New York-based MLS’s consumer site, with listings also appearing on Cribio.com. Plus, HAR and BBOR partner in SE Texas.February 18, 2026
- Most MLS, association execs back NAR’s strategy — with caveatsA recent survey of more than 1,200 organized real estate leaders found that many are aligned with NAR, but they expect membership models to change.February 17, 2026
- The modern real estate marketplace: A victim of its own success?The plumbing may need some upgrades, but overall, the MLS system flows smoothly. Ironically, the efficiency we take for granted could now be putting it at risk.February 16, 2026
- Texas MLSs weigh consolidation; ABoR adds healthcare optionsLERA, South Texas MLS in talks. Plus, LIBOR’s fair housing campaign grows; NorCal’s largest MLS launches Canva marketing app; NWMLS announces 2026 board.February 2, 2026
