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Stellar MLS Earns Central Florida Top Workplaces Honor for Fourth Consecutive Year

September 30, 2025

Award comes as Stellar caps Q3 with commitment to customer success, consumer value, and local community impact.

Stellar MLS, the largest multiple listing service in Florida and Puerto Rico and one of the most influential in the U.S., marked a busy Q3 by being awarded the prestigious Central Florida Top Workplace Award from the Orlando Sentinel Media Group for the fourth consecutive year. The list is based solely on employee feedback gathered through a third-party survey administered by employee engagement technology partner Energage LLC. The confidential survey uniquely measures 15 culture drivers that are critical to an organization’s success, including alignment, execution, and connection.

“This recognition reflects Stellar’s unwavering commitment to fostering a workplace culture where employees feel valued, supported and empowered to thrive,” said Merri Jo Cowen, CEO of Stellar MLS. “Built on a foundation of service, to our team, our customers, our shareholders and the communities they represent, our culture is the cornerstone of our success and continues to guide every aspect of our mission and strategy.”

In addition to offering generous paid time off, cost-effective health insurance, competitive compensation, and various work-life balance initiatives, Stellar MLS supports a diverse and inclusive team culture and regularly organizes guest speaker sessions and events for all staff members. Stellar MLS also offers its employees ample opportunities to serve their communities through various volunteer contributions. Furthermore, Stellar completed the Willhouse Global Transformative Inclusive Leader program for its management team. This program equips participants at any level of their organization with actionable Diversity, Equality, and Inclusivity (DEI) tools to use in their workplaces.

More Than a Multiple Listing Service

At the end of August, Stellar unveiled its “More Than a Realtor®” campaign at the 2025 Florida Realtors® Convention & Trade Expo at the Rosen Shingle Creek in Orlando. This year marked the 10th time Stellar MLS has sponsored and participated in the expo, which attracted some 3,000 registrations and 200 industry experts and exhibitors. The groundbreaking initiative highlights the human side of real estate professionals, shedding light on the behind-the-scenes work they do to guide consumers through a major life decision. By elevating the personal stories and value real estate professionals bring to the table, the campaign builds trust, empathy and stronger consumer relationships.

“Stellar MLS’s mission is to take the lead in highlighting the important work Realtors and brokers do to navigate their clients through one of the most important transactions of their lives,” said Stellar MLS COO Shayne Fairely. “Highlighting customer stories demonstrates how Stellar goes above and beyond in being not only a service provider, but also a strategic partner in its customers’ businesses.”

The “More Than” campaign illustrates how Stellar is more than an MLS and its customers are more than their titles. Through a large-scale outreach effort, hundreds of customers shared stories and photos showcasing the impact they make beyond their professional roles. This initiative reflects the shared value Stellar MLS, and its customers bring to the real estate industry, reinforcing a people-first culture at the heart of the organization.

Stellar also addressed at the conference a critical gap in the marketplace—where most consumers do not know what an MLS is or why it is valuable to buying, selling, and fair and equitable housing. To close this gap, Stellar created a consumer resource page aimed at raising awareness of the MLS’s role as more than a source of listing data, but as a trusted business partner in real estate transactions.

Cowen shared, “This innovative approach is not only enhancing the visibility of agents but also reframing the public perception of the multiple listing service and the real estate industry. This initiative reinforces Stellar’s commitment to transparency, consumer empowerment, and strengthening the agent-client relationship.”

For information, visit stellarmls.com/yourhome .

Benefitting the Broader Community

Stellar continues to demonstrate its commitment beyond the real estate industry by engaging in initiatives that impact the broader community. In addition to providing trusted data and technology solutions, Stellar recognizes its responsibility to support programs that promote sustainability and community well-being. This summer Stellar joined Florida REALTORS® as a Title Sponsor for the “Clean Up Waterways” campaign, reinforcing the organization’s role as a leader in championing efforts that help protect Florida’s natural environment. In 2025, Florida REALTORS® clean-up events have removed 27,049 pounds of trash across 134 events and with over 1,200 participants.

“For the last five years, Stellar MLS has volunteered alongside our shareholders throughout Central and Southwest Florida for the Clean Up Florida Waters initiative,” said Shayne Fairley, COO of Stellar MLS. “This initiative has been especially meaningful to me. We’ve shared unforgettable experiences while restoring our favorite waterways, ensuring they remain clean, bright and beautiful for everyone to enjoy.”

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 84,000 customers and supports real estate agents and brokers across 21 REALTOR® associations in Central and Southwest Florida and Puerto Rico. Its broad 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.   

Stellar MLS Staff, September 2025.

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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 .