NorthstarMLS and Southeast Minnesota REALTORS® (SEMR) have come together to announce that SERM will become part of NorthstarMLS. This merges the second largest MLS in Minnesota with the 
largest MLS as SEMR becomes a shareholder in NorthstarMLS. Congratulations go to all the leadership teams, headed by SEMR CEO Karen Becker and NorthstarMLS CEO John Mosey. Also kudos to CoreLogic’s Matt Cohen (Consultant at Clareity), which the parties credit for helping its leadership fully evaluate this merger.
Here is the full news release along with a couple of great photos taken at the signing:
Second Largest MLS in Minnesota to Join NorthstarMLS
ROCHESTER, Minn. – September 18, 2018 — Southeast Minnesota REALTORS® (SEMR) has become a shareholder in the largest MLS in the state of Minnesota, NorthstarMLS. MLS operations will be merged this fall. As a result, NorthstarMLS will represent approximately 19,000 real estate professionals, over 88% of those in the state.
“Too many of our members were paying to belong to two or more MLS’s to get all the listings inventory 
they needed to do business. They had to double-input their own listings to get them into both systems,” said SEMR CEO Karen Becker. But the cost savings and better efficiency are just a couple of the benefits of merging MLS operations with NorthstarMLS.
She added, “All our members will now have the most comprehensive and accurate property information for their sellers, and the most complete and up-to-date inventory for their homebuyers. We are also excited for the additional technology tools that will improve how members serve their clients.”
SEMR worked with real estate industry consultant Matt Cohen, Clareity Consulting, to help its MLS and Association leadership evaluate strategic options, to research and provide recommendations for addressing concerns, to help educate and collect feedback from broker participants, to engage with NorthstarMLS, and to create a communications plan which will be executed as the MLS operations merge.
“We are pleased to welcome SEMR as a shareholder,” said NorthstarMLS CEO John Mosey. 
“NorthstarMLS is implementing changes to better accommodate SEMR members’ needs and we expect these will make our service even better for our current customers. We hope that other associations in our multi-state market region can see how committed we are about collaborating to create a more efficient marketplace for our brokers and agents and continue to be open to further dialog on MLS cooperation in any form.”
About SEMR
Southeast Minnesota REALTORS® serves over 1,000 members in 11 counties in southeast Minnesota. Southeast Minnesota REALTORS® is committed to enhancing the business tools available to our brokers and agents and provides personalized customer service to assist members with their day-to-day business operations.
REALTORS® provide services to clients representing a wide variety of property types from metro residential to vacation properties to rural and farm to small town America. The economy in southeast Minnesota continues to grow and evolve with Mayo Clinic’s Destination Medical Center at its heart, contributing to a 7% increase in median home values overall. In 2017, over 6,000 homes sold through SEMR MLS in a highly competitive market.
Leaders from both NorthstarMLS and Southeast Minnesota REALTORS® (SEMR) meet to finalize an agreement that makes Southeast Minnesota REALTORS® (SEMR), the second largest MLS in Minnesota, a shareholder in the largest MLS in the state of Minnesota, NorthstarMLS. Pictured (left to right) John Mosey (NorthstarMLS President/CEO), Man Huynh (SPAAR President), Jay Jewson (SEMR President) and Kath Hammerseng (MAAR President).
Association and MLS leadership group from Southeast Minnesota REALTORS® (SEMR) and NorthstarMLS gather at the signing of Southeast Minnesota REALTORS® (SEMR) to become a shareholder in the largest MLS in the state of Minnesota, NorthstarMLS. MLS operations will be merged this fall. As a result, NorthstarMLS will represent approximately 19,000 real estate professionals, over 88% of those in the state.
About NorthstarMLS
NorthstarMLS® supports over 18,000 real estate professionals in Minnesota and Western Wisconsin. We provide participating brokers and agents with fast and reliable access to the information services and resources that make our property market function efficiently and effectively for both buyers and sellers.
NorthstarMLS facilitated more than 87,000 real estate transactions valued over $24 billion in 2017 and provided access for real estate professionals to more than 22,000 Active listings, more than 1.5 million comparable and sold properties, and millions of property records from ALL Minnesota and Wisconsin counties.
