Breaking Barriers: How the Real Estate Industry Continues Driving Fair Housing Forward
April 23, 2025
That’s where you come in.
As a real estate professional, you’re more than a market expert. You’re an advocate. You’re the steady voice in a process that can feel overwhelming. You may not see it every day, but your role is essential in the ongoing movement to advance fair and equitable housing for all.
April is Fair Housing Month, and it marks more than a moment in history. It’s a reminder that equity, access, and opportunity should be foundational to every real estate transaction. It’s a chance to reflect on what still needs to change and recognize the role you play in driving that change forward.
Fair Housing Is More Than a Law. It’s a Promise.
The Fair Housing Act, passed in 1968, laid a foundation to protect people from discrimination in housing. But laws alone don’t build equity. People do. You do.
Fair housing is about ensuring that every buyer and renter, no matter their background, income level, race, gender identity, or ability, has access to a fair and transparent housing process. It’s about removing barriers, challenging bias, and expanding what’s possible for the communities you serve.
Those values aren’t abstract. They show up in your conversations, your listings, and your care. And when you choose to lead with fairness, you help turn that promise into reality.
You Have a Partner in This Work
At Stellar MLS, we believe fairness in real estate begins with access to clear, accurate, and open information. We are committed to making the market work for everyone, and that starts with the tools and protections we provide.
When you list a property in Stellar MLS, you create access. When you follow our compliance standards, you protect trust. When you use the data we maintain, you bring clarity to your customers’ biggest decisions.
Our job is to support your mission. That’s why we offer over 30+ tools and services that are included with your MLS subscription. That’s why our customer service team is bilingual, local, and available six days a week. That’s why our entire organization is grounded in a simple belief: we succeed when you do.
And it’s also why you have access to tools like Down Payment Resource (DPR), a product designed to connect eligible buyers with the financial assistance they need to overcome one of the most common barriers to homeownership: the down payment. DPR is just one of the many powerful resources included in your Stellar MLS subscription—solutions that help you meet customers where they are and guide them toward what’s possible.
By integrating DPR into your listings and customer conversations, you’re opening the door wider for individuals and families who may not realize help is available.
These tools do more than enhance your service. They help you live out the mission of fair housing by making homeownership possible for more people in more communities.
Because fairness is not just a policy. It’s a partnership that only succeeds when we all recognize its importance.
Real Estate Can Be Isolating. But You Are Never Alone.
This industry asks a lot of you. Some days feel like a sprint. Others, like an uphill climb. In between the showing schedules and negotiations, you are expected to guide, educate, advocate, and inspire.
We see and admire that - know that we’re here to support you.
When you work with Stellar, you are backed by a partner who understands your challenges and believes in your ability to meet them. You’re not just using a service. You’re part of a community built on shared values, shared responsibility, and a shared belief in doing the right thing.
Let’s Keep Pushing Forward, Together
Fair housing isn’t a one-time pledge; it requires daily work and diligence. And every listing you write, every customer you advise, every moment you choose integrity over convenience, you are helping to shape a fairer, more inclusive housing market.
So, this April, we’re not just celebrating the anniversary of an act. We’re celebrating you.
The change-maker. The truth-teller. The advocate for equity.
Thank you for the work you do. For the lives you touch. And for standing firm in a fast-changing industry.
At Stellar MLS, we are proud to stand with you.
We’re for you.
Learn more about the Fair Housing Act at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
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At Stellar MLS, our valued brokers and agents run their businesses with speed, care, and precision. When a listing won’t update or a deadline is looming, it can prevent their clients from obtaining the necessary information needed to find the home of their dreams. That’s when my Support and Membership, Administration, & Data Integrity (MADI) teams step in to help. When you place a call to our offices, you can rest assured that the team member you connect with will have the resources to not only answer your questions but also leave you in a better position than when you placed the call. Stellar MLS wouldn’t be who we are without the team's continuing dedication to every customer we serve. Because of their work, Stellar MLS continues to offer you the best data in the industry, every time. We want to highlight the important work Support and MADI do every day and give them a chance to share moments when their efforts truly made a difference in our community.
Bellevue, WA; AdX, Inc., FL – December 2, 2025 – AdX, Inc., the company behind the AdBuilder™ digital advertising platform, is proud to announce the launch of AdBuilder™, the all-in-one digital advertising platform for real estate professionals, with Stellar MLS, one of the nation’s largest and most influential multiple listing services. Starting today, more than 80,000 agents and brokers across 21 REALTOR® associations in Florida and Puerto Rico can access AdBuilder™ directly inside MLS-Touch® to effortlessly market their listings with professional digital ads, requiring minimal design skills or technical expertise. “We’re thrilled to partner with Stellar MLS to simplify digital marketing at scale,” said Margo Fraker, CEO of AdBuilder™. “Agents want tools that are fast, easy, and work — and that’s exactly what AdBuilder™ delivers. We’re here to remove the complexity and let agents focus on what they do best: winning listings and closing deals.” AdBuilder™ automatically pulls listing data and photos straight from the MLS to generate ready-to-launch video ad campaigns across Facebook, Instagram, Google, and Bing — in under 60 seconds. With just a few taps, Stellar MLS customers can launch optimized video and display ads from their phone or tablet, reaching buyers where they browse most. Each campaign includes a client-ready seller report that shows clear, measurable results including views, clicks, and audience reach. “At Stellar MLS, we’re always looking for ways to equip our customers with the tools they need to compete and thrive in today’s digital-first market,” said Shayne Fairley COO of Stellar MLS. “AdBuilder™ aligns with that mission by making it easy for agents to run impactful digital campaigns right from the MLS ecosystem they already know and trust.” This launch reflects a shared commitment to innovation, productivity, and modern real estate marketing. With no setup required, minimal design expertise needed, and real-time campaign reporting built in, AdBuilder™ transforms a traditionally time-consuming process into a seamless, high-impact experience. AdBuilder™ is now available to all Stellar MLS customers via the MLS-Touch® app. To learn more and see how it works, visit adbuilder.pro/stellar. About Stellar MLS Stellar MLS is the multiple listing service for real estate professionals who value clarity, stability, and support in a real estate market and industry defined by change. As the largest multiple listing service in the state of Florida and among the largest and most influential in the U.S., Stellar MLS serves over 80,000 customers and supports real estate agents and brokers across 20 REALTOR® associations in Central and Southwest Florida and Puerto Rico. Its extensive footprint allows Stellar MLS to deliver a broader suite of cutting-edge products and services, and more opportunities for customers to do business than almost any other MLS. Stellar MLS creates conditions within which real estate professionals can succeed, the housing market can thrive, and people who seek homeownership have every opportunity to achieve it. About AdX, Inc. AdX is the creator of AdBuilder™, a platform built to simplify and supercharge real estate advertising. By automating ad creation, targeting, and reporting, AdBuilder helps agents win listings, impress sellers, and get results — fast.
Discover how Stellar MLS builds trust, strengthens data integrity, and drives real estate innovation through collaboration and cutting-edge MLS solutions.
Now more than ever, the real estate industry is facing a trust crisis . Buyers question what they see. Sellers feel unsure about the process. In a market already weighed down by economic pressure, that lack of transparency has left many wondering who they can truly rely on. So, how can we rebuild trust in today’s real estate market? The National Association of REALTORS® found that “The U.S. is currently encountering a housing affordability crisis … with the lack of housing inventory and reduced affordability, first-time buyers have been reduced to historic lows.” For many, homeownership has never seemed more distant. While dealing with the challenge of a changing market, agents are trying to steady the ground beneath them. They are tasked with guiding clients who are conditioned to question them. Stellar MLS believes that the answer to this trust crisis is transparency. Transparency means ensuring that all details agents rely on are verified and accurate. It means open communication when policies change and accountability when something needs correction. That belief in transparency is shared across Stellar MLSs leadership. Here’s how Chief Operating Officer Shayne Fairley explains its importance.
Wrapping up 2025, it can be tempting to treat the fourth quarter as a cooldown period, to take stock and coast to January. For Stellar MLS and the professionals we serve, this time is different—this is the time to accelerate. High-performing professionals and MLSs do not use the last months of the year to slow down, but to set the stage for what’s to come. Stellar MLS views this time as a window of opportunity, one that should be embraced to prepare for what’s ahead. Stellar MLS thinks forward so our customers can move forward at their best. Leveraging strategic tools for a smarter tomorrow Stellar MLS’ mission is to provide clarity and confidence in an industry defined by change. As the year closes, preparation for the future is especially crucial, which means ensuring our customers have access to the tools, data and strategies that enable them to lead in their markets. One of Stellar MLS’ nearly 30 solutions supporting agents and brokers, IO Reports by Local Logic, gives real estate professionals clarity whether showing a home to potential buyers or building a selling strategy with homeowners. From walkability to transit access, demographics to lifestyle data, agents and brokers have access to a wealth of resources that boost their value to clients and confidence in navigating markets. This product offers powerful, real-time insights that convey the full story of homeownership. In the Stellar MLS product suite, tools like this empower real estate professionals from prospecting to closing, strengthening their ability to guide clients through their journey of homeownership, building lasting relationships. Now is not the time to sit back. It’s the perfect moment to familiarize yourself with tools like this so you won’t be playing catch-up come January. Trusted data that drives confident decisions Confident decisions come from confidence in the data you use. That’s why Stellar MLS continues to elevate its market insights and statistics, providing customers with pristine and accurate snapshots of local and regional trends and listing information. Whether it’s crafting marketing strategies, guiding clients on pricing or forecasting for 2026, these insights support informed decision-making and actions. Stellar MLS’ role goes beyond data delivery; it’s to transform raw numbers into real opportunities. Momentum matters Stellar MLS’ commitment to proactive innovation is deliberate. While others wait for the new year to make moves, the best time to plan is right now. Stellar actively prepares for what’s coming so our customers can move forward with confidence. This mindset keeps Stellar MLS at the forefront of the industry and ensures real estate professionals are always ready, not reacting but leading. The final quarter of the year is not a finish line; it’s your launchpad for 2026. Take this time to refine your strategies, sharpen your skills and embrace the tools that will give you a head start. At Stellar MLS, we’re doing the same, so you can enter the new year prepared and ahead. Let’s finish strong—together.
BeachesMLS and Stellar MLS are proud to announce a major reciprocal MLS access collaboration that will significantly expand access and connectivity for real estate professionals across Florida and Puerto Rico. This partnership creates one of the largest cooperative MLS data networks in the nation, providing Realtors® with unparalleled access to listings statewide. Through this collaboration, BeachesMLS Matrix users will gain direct access to Stellar MLS listings across Central, Northern, and Southwest Florida, as well as Puerto Rico. Likewise, Stellar MLS customers will now be able to view and search listings in South Florida, the state’s most active and diverse real estate market, along with the rapidly growing Treasure Coast. Together, the two organizations are bridging regional boundaries to create a more unified Florida marketplace that benefits both real estate professionals and consumers. This initiative extends access to more than 187,000 combined active listings across both systems, connecting BeachesMLS’s 43,000 subscribers and Stellar MLS’s more than 80,000 subscribers to new business and referral opportunities. BeachesMLS users will now have access to more than 117,000 listings from Stellar MLS. In comparison, Stellar MLS subscribers will gain visibility into approximately 70,600 listings from BeachesMLS, creating exponential value through shared exposure and market insight. “At BeachesMLS, our focus has always been to empower brokers and agents through data, technology, and partnerships,” said Dionna Hall, CEO of BeachesMLS. “Our collaboration with Stellar MLS reflects that vision perfectly. Together, we are delivering broader market access, enhanced visibility for listings, and a more seamless experience for Realtors® and their customers across the state.” “Florida’s real estate market is diverse and deeply connected, and our new reciprocal access collaboration with BeachesMLS truly embodies that spirit,” said Merri Jo Cowen, CEO of Stellar MLS. “Together, we're opening the door to more listings, richer market insights, and greater opportunities for our shared customers across the state, empowering them to grow their business, strengthen relationships, and deliver exceptional value to buyers and sellers throughout Florida.” For agents, this enhanced access means greater listing visibility, more accurate market insights, and expanded opportunities for referrals and collaboration across regions. For consumers, it means a more seamless experience, whether they are relocating, investing, or purchasing a second home anywhere in Florida or Puerto Rico. As Florida’s economy continues to grow and evolve, BeachesMLS and Stellar MLS reaffirm their shared mission: to empower real estate professionals through innovation, cooperation, and connectivity. This partnership unites professionals, strengthens data integrity, and delivers unmatched value to the real estate industry.
