The days when an MLS simply delivered services in their local region are long gone. CRMLS, for example, provides MLS services for the non-contiguous state of Louisiana via its partnership with Greater Southern MLS along with its 100,000+ subscribers in California. CRMLS has, in effect, private labelled their entire MLS organization to serve the needs of Associations and Brokers in Louisiana looking to create one statewide MLS. In the Mid-Atlantic, Bright MLS offers MLS services to 6 states. FMLS in Atlanta today joined the ranks of multi-region MLSs by announcing it will be providing services to two Alabama MLSs. In fact, more than 50% of REALTORS® are served today by just 20 MLSs.

NAR’s MLS of Choice policy, enacted in 2018, removed the shackles of the typical one-to-one relationship of Associations and their corresponding MLS organizations. This historical approach, tied back to the offering of books, is not the only way to provide MLS services anymore. Since MLS services are the most important Association offering, it is critical to be sure you are offering the most valuable MLS service you can.

To survive and thrive, MLSs around the country need to look to partner with MLSs that allow them to provide a robust suite of services coupled with service and support at an affordable price to help every subscriber maximize their ability to support their clients.

With the ever-increasing pressures from outside the industry trying to devalue the power of the MLS network and organization, it is more important than ever for every MLS to look at the most effective way to deliver the best MLS suite of services possible.

Here’s the FMLS Announcement:

The Mobile Area Association of Realtors (MAAR) and Gulf Coast MLS (GCMLS), and First Multiple Listing Service (FMLS) announced a new agreement that benefits homebuyers, sellers, and real estate professionals throughout the Gulf Coast region and across a wide swath of the Southeastern United States.

Under the partnership, FMLS will be responsible for providing MAAR and GCMLS’s MLS products and services. Its members will gain immediate access to the entire suite of FMLS’ technology, plus their expansive listing syndication network, as well as FMLS’ CE-accredited Training Institute and customer support, which will greatly enhance services to brokers, agents, and consumers across state lines.

“Real estate is changing rapidly,” said Jeremy Crawford, President and CEO of FMLS, the fourth largest MLS in the U.S., according to recently released 2021 data from The Real Estate Almanac. “The pandemic has brought in new technology shifts, allowing agents and brokers to work smarter, and in many cases, handle more of the transaction process virtually. This accelerates the need for state-of-the-art products and services for agents, brokers, and their clients. We’re really excited to bring new levels of service, training, and support to our colleagues at the Mobile Association of Realtors and the Gulf Coast MLS.”

“This partnership really benefits our members,” explained Stephanie White, CEO of the Mobile Association of Realtors and Gulf Coast MLS. “We’re leveraging the immense buying power of one of the largest and most sophisticated MLSs in the country and providing it to our members at no additional charge. FMLS does a great job of selecting, managing, and delivering a vast array of technology to their members. It’s an ideal match that brings immediate resources to our members,” White concludes.

As part of the agreement, property listings and rentals will be shared throughout the expansive FMLS network and the fast growing Gulf Coast area. This has the potential to dramatically increase sales velocity and listing exposure across Alabama and Georgia.

Cameron Weavil, President of MAAR and Broker and Vice President of The Weavil Company, commented, “We’ve learned a lot in the last year through adversity, and one of them is the rapid advancements in the MLS technology industry and our need to partner with a larger organization who can help us provide expanded tools and services to our members. Plus, there has been a lot of interest in homeowners wanting to have their primary residence or vacation home on the Gulf Coast. It seems that more and more homebuyers know how beautiful Mobile and the Alabama Gulf Coast area is. So, MAAR and GCMLS members will really benefit from this great partnership with FMLS, including an increase of buyers into the Mobile area from Georgia.”

In addition to the delivery of the RESO natively-compliant CoreLogic Matrix MLS platform, the partnership also gives Mobile Association of Realtors and GCMLS members access to new technologies such as Cloud CMA, Down Payment Resource, Homesnap Pro, and Remine’s full suite of products including Pro, Add/Edit, SSO and Docs+. Mobile members will also have access to the FMLS Training Institute, which provides high quality and accredited training as a free member benefit. In addition, Mobile members will immediately have access to the extensive FMLS customer support team which provides phone, chat, e-mail and online support with an unprecedented 95% customer satisfaction rate.

Together, this partnership benefits over 54,000 combined members. The new agreement is effective today with many new products and services being rolled out in the summer of 2021.