News

Closing the Year Strong: Key Market Insights and Strategies for Success in 2025

December 27, 2024

In 2024, real estate professionals faced a dynamic year filled with fluctuating interest rates and evolving buyer preferences that reshaped the housing market. Looking ahead, 2025 promises to bring its own set of possible changes and innovations. Now is the perfect time to prepare, set goals, and leverage the tools and insights available to ensure continued success in the year ahead.

Reflecting on 2024: Key Trends Shaping the Market

Economic shifts and consumer behaviors shaped the real estate landscape in 2024. According to U.S. News , the housing market demonstrated resilience despite fluctuating mortgage rates and inventory challenges. Key trends included:

• Increased Demand for Affordable Housing: Buyers gravitated toward more affordable markets as higher interest rates impacted purchasing power.

• Emphasis on Sustainability: Green features became a priority for buyers, reflecting broader environmental consciousness.

• Tech Adoption: Virtual tours, AI-powered property matching, and digital transaction tools gained traction. In fact, 47% of real estate firms reported that keeping up with technology was one of their biggest challenges, underscoring the rapid adoption of digital tools to stay competitive ( CertifID ).

What to Expect in 2025

Looking forward, industry experts anticipate several trends to prepare for:

1. Moderation in Housing Prices: As noted by Bankrate, home prices are expected to stabilize in 2025, with growth rates slowing to around 3% annually. This moderation creates opportunities for both buyers and sellers to navigate a more predictable market environment.

2. Continued Growth in Secondary Markets: Cities outside traditional urban hubs will remain attractive, driven by remote work and lifestyle shifts.

3. Focus on Mental Resilience: Success depends not only on market knowledge but also on mindset.

With these trends in mind, let's highlight strategies agents can position themselves for success in the coming year.

Possible Strategies for Success in 2025

To thrive in the evolving market, agents must approach 2025 with clear goals, actionable strategies, and the right tools. Here’s how:

1. Define SMART Business Goals

Start with specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART) objectives. Well-defined goals provide direction and focus, helping you turn aspirations into actionable plans. For example, instead of saying, "I want to grow my business," set a SMART goal like, "I will increase my transaction volume by X% by Q3 of 2025 by focusing on secondary markets." This approach ensures clarity and keeps you on track to achieve tangible results.

2. Leverage Market Data

Market insights are essential for staying ahead. Use resources like Stellar MLS’s Market Reports to identify trends, understand buyer and seller behaviors, and guide your customers with confidence.

3. Embrace Technology

Digital tools are no longer optional—they’re a necessity. Stellar MLS offers an extensive suite of products designed to enhance every stage of the transaction process, from lead generation to closing. With over 30 tools included in your subscription, you have everything you need to streamline your business and deliver exceptional service.

4. Prioritize Client Relationships

As Luxury Presence emphasizes, building trust and rapport with customers is critical. Use Stellar MLS’s tools to personalize your approach, whether through targeted market insights or tailored property searches. TIP: Set reminders in your CRM to follow up with past clients on key anniversaries or milestones—it’s a simple way to nurture long-term relationships.

Why Choosing Stellar MLS Empowers Your Real Estate Business

Stellar MLS is much more than a technology provider—we’re your partner in success. Our commitment to delivering accurate data, exceptional service, and innovative solutions ensures you’re equipped to navigate the complexities of the real estate market.

How Stellar MLS Supports Your Growth, Including:

• Unmatched Data Integrity: Confidently guide your customers with reliable, accurate market information.

• Comprehensive Tools: Access an unparalleled array of resources, from prospecting tools to post-close solutions.

• Exceptional Support: Our bilingual support team is here to assist you six days a week, ensuring you get the most from your subscription.

Closing the Year Strong

Before turning the page to 2025, reflect on your 2024 wins and challenges, and use these lessons to fuel your new strategies. Celebrate your achievements and embrace the lessons learned. Use these insights to set ambitious yet attainable goals that align with your vision. With the tools, support, and expertise offered by Stellar MLS, you’re not just prepared to navigate an ever-changing market—you’re positioned to thrive in it. Together, let’s make 2025 a year of new heights and bold successes.

Sources:

• Housing Market Predictions for the Next 5 Years – U.S. News

• Emerging Trends in Real Estate – PwC

• Housing Market in 2025 – Bankrate

• Winning the Mental Game – HousingWire

• How to Succeed as a Real Estate Agent – Luxury Presence

• 10 Real Estate Technology Trends to Know About in 2024

• Stellar MLS Q3 Stats Report

More News

AdBuilder™ partners with Stellar MLS to bring seamless listing marketing to 80,000+ real estate professionals across Florida and Puerto Rico

By Mackenzie Riley • December 2, 2025

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.

Group of real estate professionals walking outside, they are leaders.

Innovating on a Foundation of Trust: How Stellar MLS Equips Real Estate Leaders

By Mackenzie Riley • November 21, 2025

Discover how Stellar MLS builds trust, strengthens data integrity, and drives real estate innovation through collaboration and cutting-edge MLS solutions.

Rebuilding Trust in Real Estate Through Transparency

By Victoria Eastberg • November 7, 2025

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.

Why Q4 Is a Launchpad, Not a Landing Zone

By Mackenzie Riley • November 4, 2025

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 Announce Major Data Share Expansion, Connecting Agents and Listings Across Florida

By Mackenzie Riley • October 15, 2025

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.

Logos of Universal Consulting Opportunities and CILA over a map of the Americas.

Universal Consulting Opportunities and CILA Unite to Elevate the Real Estate Industry and Transparency Across Latin America

By Warner Ransone • October 9, 2025

ALTAMONTE SPRINGS, Fla. (Oct. 9, 2025) – Universal Consulting Opportunities (UCO), a subsidiary of Stellar MLS, one of the largest and most influential MLSs in the U.S., has entered into a strategic alliance with the Confederación Inmobiliaria Latinoamericana (CILA), a private international organization representing 700,000 real estate professionals in Latin America, to deliver Multiple Listing Service (MLS) expertise and education across the region. With this agreement, CILA and UCO will work to elevate real estate practices across Latin America, where the residential market is expected to expand from $478 billion to more than $712 billion by 2029, according to Modor Intelligence. CILA unites brokers and property managers from 18 countries: Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Dominican Republic, Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay and Venezuela. CILA members serve more than 527 million people, representing 80 percent of Latin America’s population. This collaboration empowers both organizations to further advance their respective missions while maximizing their impact on critical issues of transparency, professionalism, and trust across the industry. “We are delighted to be working with our esteemed colleagues at CILA and share best practices to guide the advancement of real estate across Latin America,” said Merri Jo Cowen, CEO of UCO and Stellar MLS. “This is a critical market and aligns with our vision of supporting organizations with multiple member countries—as we do with CEPI in Europe and FIABCI worldwide—and deepening our engagement across diverse geographies.” “One of the greatest challenges we face throughout Latin America is transforming long-held cultural beliefs and building customer confidence in the value of best practices, as shown in the practice of using MLSs,” said CILA President Enrique José Morales Choto. “This is precisely why UCO was a natural fit—their extensive global expertise and proven ability to guide organizations on this path make them an invaluable resource in moving CILA toward lasting success.” This agreement comes on the heels of CILA’s 10th Latin American Real Estate Congress in August, where UCO’s leadership joined some 600 professionals and global experts in the Dominican Republic to focus on innovation, market trends, and digital transformation. This landmark step with CILA marks another large milestone in UCO’s international initiatives, reinforcing its role as a strategic leader in the global real estate industry. By modernizing the Latin American markets through this collaboration, UCO and CILA are guiding organizations, empowering professionals, elevating industry standards, and delivering enhanced value to consumers. Currently, UCO is advising real estate organizations to adapt MLS solutions to the unique needs of markets across several regions, including South Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and now, Latin America. These efforts are designed to elevate professionalism, increase market transparency, and build efficient MLS ecosystems that benefit agents, brokers, and consumers worldwide. Learn more at stellarmls.com/Global .