News

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.

More News

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 .

Stellar MLS Announces Reciprocal MLS Access Collaboration   with State-Wide MLS

By Mackenzie Riley • October 7, 2025

ALTAMONTE SPRINGS, Fla. (Oct. 7, 2025) — Stellar MLS, the largest multiple listing service in Florida and Puerto Rico and one of the most influential in the U.S., has announced a reciprocal MLS access agreement with State-Wide Multiple Listing Service. State-Wide MLS is a subsidiary of the Rhode Island Association of REALTORS, a non-profit real estate trade organization serving approximately 6,000 members in nearly 1,000 offices across Rhode Island and neighboring states. State-Wide MLS customers can seamlessly search and view listings in both systems, without the need for additional memberships. The collaboration goes beyond data access, offering a powerful avenue for customers to expand their referral networks and explore new market opportunities. Effective Tuesday, Oct. 7, Stellar MLS and State-Wide MLS customers will have reciprocal access to each other’s listings. With broader visibility across state lines, customers gain a competitive edge, stronger referral opportunities, and the ability to grow their business in both local and out-of-market areas. “Our reciprocal MLS access agreement with State-Wide MLS is a win for real estate professionals, the consumers they serve, and ultimately, the industry as a whole,” said Merri Jo Cowen, CEO of Stellar MLS. “It enhances mobility between the two regions, whether customers have clients relocating, purchasing a second home, or investing out of state. Together, we are advancing data accuracy, transparency, and access--three pillars that define us at Stellar MLS.” Since both organizations utilize Matrix, real estate professionals will experience a seamless, familiar, and intuitive platform for viewing and sharing real-time data. This will simplify the process of assisting clients who are relocating, investing, or exploring new opportunities. Stellar MLS’s Reciprocal MLS Access at a glance: • A referral network of more than 401,000 real estate professionals; • Access to more than 326,000 listings; • Domestic coverage of 11 states and territories; and • International coverage of 17 countries. “We are thrilled with this partnership opportunity,” said Philip Tedesco, CEO of State-Wide MLS. “Rhode Island has many residents spending a lot of time in Florida, so reciprocal MLS access with Stellar MLS makes a lot of sense for us. Our collective customer-base will benefit greatly from the visibility in each other’s marketplace.” # # # 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 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.

Universal Consulting Opportunities Champions Global Collaboration at the International MLS Forum in Toronto

By Warner Ransone • October 2, 2025

FLORIDA, U.S. (Oct. 2, 2025) – Universal Consulting Opportunities (UCO), a subsidiary of Stellar MLS, one of the largest and most influential MLSs in the U.S., took the stage as Title Partner for the third annual International MLS Forum. Hosted by the Real Estate Standards Organization (RESO) and the European Association of Real Estate Professions (CEPI) , the two-day forum (Sept. 25–26) in Toronto gathered industry experts worldwide to explore MLS culture, global business models, emerging technologies, government regulation, and broker-driven innovation. A highlight of the event was UCO’s signing of a landmark agreement with Advanced Real Estate Services (United Arab Emirates), Toronto Regional Real Estate Board (Canada), Syndicat National Des Professionels Immobiliers (France), and San Diego MLS (U.S.). The five-way collaboration launched as Global Data Exchange (GDX), will enable secure cross-border data sharing through UCO’s parent company, Stellar MLS, and set a precedent for global marketplace connectivity. The first of its kind , GDX demonstrates how MLS standards can transcend borders, giving real estate professionals access to richer, more reliable listing data and helping consumers benefit from greater transparency and efficiency with international transactions. “GDX reflects how far we’ve come—turning vision into reality and paving the way for professionals to securely access global listing data with confidence and integrity,” said Merri Jo Cowen, CEO of UCO and Stellar MLS. “By leveraging RESO standards, we set the stage for a truly connected global marketplace.” As was the case in previous years, UCO leadership played a central role throughout the forum, moderating multiple panels, shaping critical conversations and sharing key learnings. From innovation and emerging market opportunities to lessons from years of building and scaling MLS solutions, UCO’s proven expertise positioned its leaders at the forefront of the conversations shaping tomorrow’s real estate marketplace. COO Shayne Fairley emphasized the importance of UCO’s active presence: “Being at the center of these conversations is crucial—not only for UCO, but for the industry as a whole. At the International MLS Forum, collaboration becomes action. It’s where the right people and the right ideas converge to shape tomorrow’s real estate marketplace.” Looking ahead, the forum confirmed its future direction with Martin Mucha, CEO of Igluu, named Host Partner for the 2027 event in Prague following the 2026 forum in Abu Dhabi. The announcement underscores the forum’s growing role as the premier stage for advancing MLS collaboration worldwide. Beyond the event, UCO continues to expand its support and impact by advising organizations across Europe, South Asia, and Latin America on implementing MLS solutions tailored to local markets—driving transparency, professionalism, and sustainable growth across global real estate.

Merri Jo Cowen, Stellar MLS CEO, inducted into the Council of Multiple Listing Service Hall of Fame.

Council of Multiple Listing Services Inducts Merri Jo Cowen into CMLS Hall of Fame

By Mackenzie Riley • September 25, 2025

Celebrate the induction of Merri Jo Cowen, Stellar MLS CEO, into the CMLS Hall of Fame, honoring 40 years of leadership and innovation in the MLS industry.

NAR India Appoints UCO as Exclusive MLS Implementer to Transform Indian Real Estate and Unlock Global Opportunities

By Warner Ransone • September 25, 2025

FLORIDA, U.S. (Sept. 24, 2025) – Universal Consulting Opportunities (UCO), a subsidiary of Stellar MLS, one of the largest and most influential MLSs in the U.S., and the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) India have announced an agreement to bring a modern MLS to India. This collaboration is a defining step for India, one of the world’s largest and fastest‐growing real estate markets, offering greater professionalism, strengthened data integrity, and enhanced transparency for all stakeholders. UCO and NAR India are launching India’s first MLS pilot in Mumbai, marking the start of a nationwide transformation in a region comparable to the New York City metropolitan area. With a population of 1.46 billion, a $1 trillion real estate market expected by 2030, near-universal internet access, and the world’s most advanced digital payments and identity ecosystem, India is uniquely positioned to leapfrog into a modern, transparent, and technology-driven real estate future. This pilot is the first step toward building the most ambitious MLS infrastructure in the world. NAR India, the premier national association for real estate professionals, unites over 40 member associations and more than 50,000 practitioners nationwide. As the collective voice of India’s real estate community, NAR India has been instrumental in shaping policy, advancing education, and driving advocacy for professional excellence. Its leadership ensures that the adoption of an MLS is rooted in the realities of the Indian market, amplifying the benefits for its members and millions of consumers nationwide. By joining forces, UCO and NAR India will combine strengths—NAR India’s market leadership and influence with UCO’s decades of MLS expertise—to co-create a modern, scalable MLS in India. “We are honored and proud to support NAR India in developing a connected and transparent real estate ecosystem in India – a critical market that aligns with our vision of empowering organizations as we expand our reach across diverse geographies,” said Merri Jo Cowen, CEO of UCO and Stellar MLS. “This collaboration will streamline transactions and open new avenues of growth for agents, brokers, developers, and consumers while laying the foundation for a sustainable marketplace that shapes the future of real estate in India.” “Partnering exclusively with UCO marks a transformative milestone for NAR India and our members,” said Tarun Bhatia, Vice Chairman and Chair Global, NAR India. “For NAR India, this collaboration goes beyond data access and member growth—it represents an opportunity to adapt global best practices, strengthen professional trust, and empower our members to compete and thrive in a truly interconnected marketplace.” This partnership creates a true two-way bridge. Indians are the fourth-largest group of foreign buyers in U.S. real estate, making up 6 percent of international transactions with an average purchase price of $346,400, right in line with the U.S. median. At the same time, Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) are fueling strong demand for real estate in India. By aligning global standards and building cross-border trust, UCO and NAR India are opening doors for Indians buying in North America and NRIs investing back home in India. Together, NAR India’s national leadership and UCO’s global expertise ensure that this landmark initiative is not only a technological leap but also a collective effort to shape a transparent, trusted, and competitive real estate marketplace that reflects India’s strengths on the world stage.