MLS Regionalization
(Disclaimer: This page is intended to be used as a resource page ONLY. We are still in the infancy stages of this concept and absolutely NO final decisions about regionalization have been determined yet. This page will be updated as new information is obtained throughout this process. Current revision date 1/9/2024.)
In 2023, Metro Search Inc. (MSI), MLS for the Greater Louisville Area REALTORS®, completed its first-ever strategic plan. During this intensive planning, our leaders were exposed to data, trends, and insights on both the changing real estate marketplace and the MLS landscape nationwide. From this new strategic plan, the discussion on exploring collaborations was born. An Ad Hoc task group was formed by the MSI President and approved by the MSI Board to further investigate this initiative and make a recommendation based on their findings.
View the Metro Search, Inc. Strategic Plan.
Our Purpose: To empower an innovative, cooperative, and comprehensive real estate marketplace.
Data & Rationale
Click here to WATCH the data presentation.
REALTORS® are licensed to list and sell property across the state of Kentucky and many want access to the complete information without borders. This important initiative would give real estate practitioners access to a single MLS with the products and services they need to do their business. REALTORS® benefit when consumers receive significant value in working with informed and empowered professionals. REALTORS® and their boards/associations are much stronger together, as we all look ahead to an uncertain future for organized real estate.
The primary rationale, or the “Why”, for consolidation of the two MLS organizations into one regional MLS are to better serve the emerging regional real estate marketplace, prevent acquisition and to prepare for the likelihood of outside MLS market penetration, ensure data completeness and accuracy, increased organizational capabilities and resources, and to provide greater collective benefits for real estate professionals and their clients.
“The Why” – Organizational Rationale:
• Improve member/subscriber service levels.
• Prevent potential acquisition by other national or hyper-regional MLSs.
• Avoid fragmentation of the marketplace and wasted efforts between the two established MLSs.
• Ensure shareholder profits are sustainable based on a regional MLS business model.
• Enhanced stability, durability, and competitiveness for a locally directed MLS.
• Offer brokers and consumers access to comprehensive and quality data.
• Increase negotiation power and pool resources for advanced services and benefits.
• Better able to focus on emerging technologies and AI in real estate.
• Address subscriber overlaps and broker concerns.
• Streamline processes and contracts
With a modernized regional MLS, this potential new structure would be amongst the top 50 MLS’s by size in the country. Based on information and data currently known, regionalization will allow the opportunity to deliver a more efficient business entity by centralizing decision-making, aligning business rules to better leverage real estate data and technology (as stated in our strategic plan), while also enhancing purchasing power via the Regional MLS. The regional model has also shown to be an effective business practice and the future of MLS’s in organized real estate by the 107 existing regional MLSs which serve 61%, or 636, local REALTOR® associations in the country.
Frequently Asked Questions
Have additional questions or feedback you would like to share with us? Click here for our feedback form.