Jessica Edgerton, who takes over as CEO of the Council of Multiple Listing Services (CMLS) on July 1, gave RISMedia an interview last week that every agent should read—not because it sounds an alarm, but because it doesn’t. Edgerton gets the most important thing exactly right. Asked what is worth protecting as private listings and…
Above, from left, John De Souza, Jessica Edgerton, Craig Cheatham and Donny Samson While commission-related lawsuits are mostly in the rear-view mirror, unresolved issues linger, from FTC investigations to MLS policy changes to the volatile landscape surrounding private listings. Real estate experts will discuss which issues the industry should be paying close attention to and…
The multiple listing service has always been a simple concept. But like a lot of straightforward ideas, everything gets a lot more complicated once you need to address competing interests, stakeholder priorities and operational requirements. Even so, MLSs remained a relatively unquestioned foundation of real estate for decades—until now. For the first time in the…
Above, Jessica Edgerton (courtesy of CMLS) Amid a fundamental reorganizing of the MLS space, the Council of Multiple Listing Services (CMLS) announced that Jessica Edgerton, a lawyer who previously served in high-profile leadership roles at Leading Real Estate Companies of the World® (LeadingRE) and as a lawyer for the National Association of Realtors® (NAR) will…
Antitrust has been a loaded topic in real estate since at least the commission lawsuits of the 2020s that alleged many foundational rules and practices in real estate violated antitrust laws, and the Department of Justice (DOJ) launching its own parallel inquiry. Now, federal agencies are looking to review and revise existing antitrust guidelines, the…
The Council of Multiple Listing Services (CMLS) has announced its 2026 Board of Directors, which brings together experienced MLS leaders from across North America. The 2026 Board will build on CMLS’ ongoing work in policy development, collaboration and governance, supporting MLSs as it navigates an evolving industry landscape and increasing demands for clarity, consistency and…