A week after Open Real Estate, a broker-led initiative to build a shared infrastructure for residential listing data, launched, the initiative announced that it has secured 826 letters of support from real estate brokerage leaders across the country.
Independent firms account for the majority of that backing, with 493 letters, or 59%, coming from independent brokerages, according to an announcement on Monday. Support spans single-office independents to some of the largest independent firms, including Atlanta Communities, Iron Valley Real Estate, LoKation Real Estateand Realty of America, all RealTrends Verified brokerages.
The effort is designed as a national, shared data layer that connects brokerages, agents, multiple listing services and real estate portals. Founding organizations include AGNT Inc. (parent to eXp Realty and NextHome), HomeServices of America, Keller Williams Realty and Real REMAX Group, all RealTrends Verified brokerages.
“We have already received significant interest from across the real estate industry since our announcement, and we look forward to continuing to engage with brokerages of all sizes, MLS organizations and technology providers as we develop a platform that expands consumer choice and transparency for home buyers and sellers,” the founding members of Open Real Estate said in a joint statement.
MLS leaders signal willingness to collaborate
Open Real Estate’s backers say the project is meant to complement, not replace, existing MLS organizations by expanding access to listing information for brokerages, agents and consumers.
Several prominent MLS executives publicly welcomed collaboration with the initiative.
“We welcome the initiative of Open Real Estate and look forward to actively participating and partnering with industry leaders to build on the capabilities already in place at Bright and advance a more connected, efficient, broker-driven marketplace,” Brian Donnellan, the president and CEO of Bright MLS and a HousingWire Vanguard award winner, said in a statement.
Art Carter, CEO of California Regional MLS (CRMLS), added that the effort aligns with CRMLS’s long-running work to give brokers more flexibility in how they input and manage listing data.
“Strategically, California Regional MLS and Open Real Estate are in alignment with the concept of allowing brokers to bring listing data in from outside the CRMLS MLS Input Platform. It has been a long-term project of CRMLS to allow our brokers to have that ability,” Carter, a HousingWire Vanguard award winner, said in a statement. “We look forward to working with Open Real Estate to see how that possibility comes to fruition within their platform.”
North Texas Real Estate Information Systems (NTREIS) CEO Chris Carrillo framed Open Real Estate as part of a broader conversation about transparency and equal access to listings.
“NTREIS remains dedicated to fostering a transparent, cooperative and neutral marketplace that serves all broker participants equally by delivering consistent listing access and empowering exceptional consumer service. In alignment with this mission, we welcome constructive dialogue with Open Real Estate,” Carrillo said.
And NorthstarMLS President and CEO Tim Dain emphasized that broker-driven projects can coexist with MLSs.
“Broker-led innovation shouldn’t be viewed as a threat to the MLS. It’s an opportunity to strengthen the cooperation that has served our industry for decades,” Dain, also a HousingWire Vanguard award winner, said in a statement. “I hope this initiative brings even more brokers and MLSs to the table.”
The push for a shared listing data infrastructure comes as the industry adapts to rapid changes in how listings are distributed and displayed, ongoing antitrust scrutiny and shifting brokerage business models. Brokerages are looking for more direct control over how their listing data flows to MLSs, portals, internal systems and third-party tools.
Open Real Estate’s founders position the initiative as a way to streamline listing distribution, expand access to housing inventory and support a more open, competitive housing marketplace, particularly as consumer expectations for transparent, real-time listing information continue to rise.
