Camille Lai
Marketing Specialist
Stellar MLS Welcomes New Smyrna Beach Board of REALTORS® as Newest Shareholder
September 20, 2023
The partnership aims to broaden the market by combining resources and expertise, resulting in a more robust and diverse property listing network.
ALTAMONTE SPRINGS, Fla., Sept. 20, 2023 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Stellar MLS, a trailblazing force in the real estate industry, proudly announces its latest milestone – welcoming the New Smyrna Beach Board of REALTORS® (NSBBOR) as its newest shareholder. As the third largest MLS organization in the United States and the largest in Florida and Puerto Rico, Stellar MLS remains a leading force in the real estate industry, providing expanded exposure of inventory to their customers and offering an all-encompassing platform that grants access to property listing data, invaluable market insights, and an extensive suite of cutting-edge industry tools and services.
"We are thrilled to welcome the New Smyrna Beach Board of REALTORS® as a shareholder. This partnership reflects Stellar MLS's commitment to expanding our network and enhancing the real estate landscape," said Stellar MLS CEO Merri Jo Cowen. "Together with NSBBOR, we will deliver unparalleled value to our customers as we continue to grow and remain dedicated to driving innovation and success for real estate professionals."
Both organizations are excited to expand the marketplace by pooling resources and knowledge. This collaboration will bring more inventory to consumers, NSBBOR members, and current Stellar customers, creating a richer and more diverse property listing network while also attracting new brokers and agents looking for an expansive and efficient real estate marketplace.
The New Smyrna Beach Board of REALTORS®, representing approximately 800 real estate brokers and agents, has steadfastly served its members for seventy-eight years by providing education, advocacy, and resources, by ensuring adherence to professionalism and high ethical standards upholding the Realtor image and by promoting home ownership and protecting private property rights.
Expressing enthusiasm, NSBBOR's President Jenny Snyder noted, "Joining forces with Stellar MLS marks an exciting chapter for our organization. We look forward to leveraging this joint venture to empower our members, enhance their capabilities, and collectively shape the future of real estate."
This partnership represents a fusion of shared values and goals, promising to help shape the future of real estate in the region. As Stellar MLS continues to set new industry standards, the company remains devoted to enabling the success and innovation of real estate professionals, both home-grown and globally.
About Stellar MLS
Headquartered in Altamonte Springs, FL, Stellar MLS (Stellar) is Florida's largest multiple listing service (MLS) company, with nearly 85,000 customers in Florida and Puerto Rico. Offering a comprehensive suite of the industry's best products and world-class customer service, Stellar MLS is committed to helping brokers and agents thrive in tomorrow's competitive real estate market. Learn more at stellarmls.com.
About the New Smyrna Beach Board of REALTORS®
The New Smyrna Beach Board of REALTORS® is a collection of the top real estate agents, brokers, and managers throughout Volusia County, Florida. Members of the Board represent the highest quality service and are committed to upholding the traditions and standards of this long-running organization.
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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.
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.
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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.
As real estate business models continue to evolve, building your business by providing more robust customer value takes a collaborative and forward-thinking approach. As real estate professionals work to meet the needs of buyers and sellers embarking on the most important transaction of their life, Stellar MLS is doubling down in its commitment to arm its customers with an array of tools and insights. Leading the way in market innovation Consistently innovating to provide products that revolutionize real estate, Stellar MLS does not simply deliver information; it drills down to deliver insights, offering the most effective tools to help customers save time and increase efficiency. Products like TransactionDesk simplify day-to-day routines, reducing stress and freeing up valuable time for agents and brokers to focus on their customers and clients. Tools such as this are deeply embedded in our ecosystem to give brokers and agents a streamlined, secure and compliant way to manage every stage of every transaction. Helping brokers guide agents to success One of Stellar MLS’ Always Principles is that we succeed when brokers do. Rayse—one of our newest products—helps brokers empower their agents with features like Buyer Presentation, turning initial consultations into structured, high-impact experiences while outlining the agent’s role and value at each stage. At the same time, Client Portal tools provide comparisons and tour feedback, helping buyers stay informed without feeling overwhelmed. Agents can also leverage Realist—a public records database that provides property and ownership data, market information, street and aerial maps, and market trends. This layered, behind-the-scenes data allows agents to give their customers a full picture, whether they’re evaluating a listing price or researching market opportunities. Providing trend analysis and local insights The Stellar Market Meter, our quarterly statistics report, provides an in-depth analysis of critical trends and developments in our coverage area and beyond—and an invaluable aid to busy agents. Economist Dr. Elliot Eisenberg provides expert commentary and data-driven insights designed to assist in making informed decisions, anticipating future trends and understanding the market’s evolving landscape. Further, Stellar’s Matrix tool lets agents and brokers filter listings by specific criteria such as subdivisions, green fields and water views. This enhanced search experience empowers real estate professionals to build deeper connections with consumers, because it’s not just about finding a property, it’s about helping people discover the place they truly belong. A pathway to prosperity Stellar MLS is dedicated to being the Multiple Listing Service for real estate professionals who value clarity, stability and support. Our mantra, “We’re for You,” is at the core of our brand promise and our mission—the same promise of better, more local and more valuable insights that top agents deliver daily to their clients. That’s why we continue to invest in the resources that fuel your business by transforming complex market data into clear, usable insights. Join us in the mission to focus on what’s next and take your business to the next level by maximizing your value to your customers. Read more by Shayne at https://www.rismedia.com/bylines/shayne-fairley/ .
