Lack of Leadership in MLSs Continues to Stifle Industry Growth

It's no secret that the real estate industry has been grappling with property data issues for years now. The ongoing debates surrounding the Clear Cooperation Policy (CCP) and delayed listings have caused significant confusion and controversy, leading to a lack of progress for the industry. And unfortunately, it seems that this trend will continue into 2025.

Many industry experts have pointed to the lack of leadership in Multiple Listing Services (MLSs) as a major contributing factor to this ongoing issue. Without strong and decisive leadership, MLSs have been unable to effectively address the challenges surrounding property data.

One of the main sticking points in this ongoing debate is the CCP, which was implemented in 2020 to require agents to submit listings to the MLS within one business day of marketing the property publicly. While this policy was meant to promote transparency and fairness in the industry, it has been met with resistance and pushback from some agents and brokers.

As a result, many MLSs have been forced to delay implementing the CCP or have simply chosen not to enforce it. This lack of consistency and coordination among MLSs has only added to the confusion and controversy surrounding property data.

But it's not just the CCP that is causing issues. Delayed listings, where agents wait several days before adding a property to the MLS, have also become a contentious topic. Some argue that this practice allows agents to "shop" the property to their own buyers before making it available to the wider market, while others argue that it's a necessary strategy in a competitive market.

Overall, the lack of leadership in