Is the MLS about to die?

I don’t think it is, but it’s about to become unrecognizable. In the last 30 days Compass partnered with Redfin, Zillow launched Zillow Preview with KW and RE/MAX, and eXp started syndicating Coming Soon listings to Realtorcom and Homescom. Every major brokerage now has a way to get listings in front of buyers before they ever hit the MLS. That’s not a trend. That’s a new system being built right in front of us.

The MLS used to be the only place buyers found homes. Now it’s becoming the second stop, not the first. The MLSs that adapt and build flexible marketing options will survive. The ones that keep hitting agents with fines and fighting the change are going to get sued, bypassed, or both. So…the MLS isn’t dying. But the version of it that tries to control when and where you market a listing? That’s already on life support.