2026
ATLANTA, GA, UNITED STATES, March 18, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ -- As the real estate industry becomes increasingly global, First Multiple Listing Service (FMLS) is leading the charge to expand the power of cooperation beyond traditional borders.
ALTAMONTE SPRINGS, Fla. (March 11, 2026)— After nearly two decades at the helm of one of the nation’s most influential multiple listing services, Merri Jo Cowen, CEO of Stellar MLS, is transitioning into a full-time leadership role at Universal Consulting Opportunities (UCO), the organization’s fast-growing global MLS advisory subsidiary.
Gli agenti immobiliari aderenti Listing+ ottengono un canale di accesso affidabile e tutelato al mercato internazionale, mentre dati, regole e governance restano sotto il controllo locale
2025
The Abu Dhabi Real Estate Centre (ADREC) and Advanced Real Estate Services (ADRES) highlighted the UAE’s growing leadership in proptech and real estate data governance at the International MLS Forum 2025, held in Toronto, Canada, by signing new global data exchange agreements.
The Abu Dhabi Real Estate Centre (ADREC), the custodian and regulator of the Abu Dhabi’s real estate sector, and Advanced Real Estate Services (ADRES) have jointly showcased Abu Dhabi’s growing influence in global proptech and real estate standardization following their participation at the International MLS Forum 2025 in Toronto, Canada.
UCO's role at the 2025 International MLS Forum is key in uniting markets, empowering professionals and shaping the future of global real estate.
Congratulations to VestaPlus MLS Software Solutions for winning the Excellence in Technology Integration award!
The forum highlighted major new global data initiatives, cross-border partnerships, emerging technology and international award honorees, bringing together nearly 300 attendees from 130 companies across 20 countries to explore the future of real estate marketplaces. With 57 speakers and 23 sessions, the event showcased the power of collaboration, the momentum of global standards and the promise of technology to reshape how property data moves across borders.
As U.S. brokerages move away from the MLS, global real estate leaders see gold in listing data transparency.
Launched as Global Data Exchange (GDX), the Stellar MLS subsidiary signed an agreement with Advanced Real Estate Services, Toronto Regional Real Estate Board, Syndicat National De Professionnels Immobiliers and San Diego MLS.
Universal Consulting Opportunities (UCO), a subsidiary of Stellar MLS in the U.S., and 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.
Член FIABCI-Ukraine Артур Оганесян вдруге поспіль взяв участь у міжнародному MLS Forum, організованому Real Estate Standards Organization (RESO).RESO об’єднує MLS, брокерські компанії, асоціації рієлторів і технологічних партнерів, представляючи майже 2 мільйони професіоналів ринку нерухомості.
John DiMichele, CEO of the Toronto Regional Real Estate Board (TRREB), will take the stage as a keynote speaker, sharing insights with the international delegation on the importance of collaboration, technology and policy.
The Toronto Regional Real Estate Board (TRREB) is welcoming the world to the third annual International MLS Forum. By inviting international event organizers to Toronto, TRREB is helping to assemble top real estate association leaders, technology experts and investors from Europe, the Middle East, Asia and North America.
RESO was built for growth. That’s why, as U.S. Multiple Listing Service (MLS) certification reached near ubiquity, the RESO Board made global expansion a top priority in 2024. In 2025, RESO’s international presence continues to expand through mission and invitation. A recent RESO article highlighted international support and outlined reasons to attend the third annual International MLS Forum in Toronto.
As demand for more transparent and collaborative real estate practices grows across the globe, Universal Consulting Opportunities (UCO) is deepening its work with real estate leaders in several countries. Throughout the month of June, the team has been participating in key industry events in Barcelona (Spain), Amsterdam (Netherlands) and Accra (Ghana), playing active roles in global conversations on real estate modernization and helping guide the expansion of Multiple Listing Services (MLSs) in emerging and evolving markets.
At the core of the partnership is a shared commitment to RESO standards, which will serve as the foundation for seamless integration and data exchange across markets. SNPI becomes the first European MLS certified under RESO, representing a significant milestone in aligning European real estate systems with global standards.
The third annual International MLS Forum will be held at the Westin Harbour Castle in Toronto, September 25–26, bringing global real estate leaders together to shape the future of property data worldwide. Speakers from leading global organizations are lining up.
At the International MLS Forum in Toronto, global real estate leaders will come together to shape the future of property data worldwide. Whether you are a leader in the technology industry, association management, MLS, brokerage, law or government, you will not want to miss this third annual event. It will benefit your organization’s vision in many ways. Here are six of them.
An important exploration of RESO’s global growth was published by Real Estate News. Its headline touted the first MLS to be certified on RESO standards. In reiterating that story, let’s dive deeper into the international growth of RESO’s effects on marketplaces and the global vision for open standards.
Real estate doesn't stop at the border. Sharing a common set of rules improves the transparency and efficiency of transactions in the U.S. and beyond.
Building on the success of Paris and Milan, RESO invites you to the 3rd International MLS Forum in Toronto, September 25–26, 2025. We are excited that this year’s event dovetails with CMLS Open House, which takes place September 23–25. The International MLS Forum will begin with a half day joint session with CMLS.
2024
The International MLS Forum has announced Panel 05/B: "MLS of the Future: The Value of Listing Data," a timely discussion set to take place in October in Milan, Italy. This panel will feature leading voices from the real estate industry who will explore the evolving value and copyright ownership of listing data.
The latest addition to this year’s International MLS Forum, organized by RESO and CEPI, the European Association of Real Estate Professions, exhibits the broad scope and importance of this event. From Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates, the proptech venture developer Advanced Real Estate Services (ADRES) and its General Manager, Mr. Moath Maqbool, will participate in the forum.
RE Technology, Inc. announced its role as the official media partner for the upcoming second International MLS Forum, October 2024, at the prestigious Spazio Antologico in Milan, Italy.
Following the resounding success of the inaugural International MLS Forum in Paris, which brought together industry leaders from more than 30 countries, this year’s forum promises to be even more enlightening for real estate professionals from around the globe.
It was early December in Paris, France when the very first MLS International Forum brought together a small but powerful group of international real estate leaders, visionaries and influencers to address the possibilities of a collaborative effort in establishing MLS data standards.
The CEPI Secretariat is thrilled to announce its upcoming international conference on MLS systems in Europe, in collaboration with the Real Estate Standards Organization (RESO) and our trusted digital partner, Realtyna.
RESAAS Services Inc., a technology solutions provider to the real estate industry, reports its head of industry development, Joe Schneider, organized, hosted and moderated the inaugural International MLS Forum.
Being able to succinctly communicate the benefits of the MLS in a modern environment is critical for brokers and MLS leaders to ensure that transparent, liquid marketplaces continue to serve their communities. In this three-part series, RESO CEO Sam DeBord outlines the functions and value of the MLS, as well as its global reach and future outlook. In part two, he offers a look at the MLS outside the U.S. and Canada.
The way global real estate markets interact with technology ecosystems is undergoing dramatic change. Multiple Listings Services (MLSs) and brokerages across continents are modernizing markets and data systems that were formerly analog and fragmented.
Today’s Speaker Spotlight focuses on Mathew Kallumadil, VP of Technology for Stellar MLS out of Orlando, Florida, with over 84,000 customers.
Real estate leaders from more than 30 countries gathered in December 2023 for the first International MLS Forum in Paris, France.
2023
Sam DeBord, CEO of RESO, shares his top takeaways from the first MLS International Forum held in Paris, France. As the leader in data standards, Sam gives his insights into how RESO standards can support collaboration and connection on a global level.
In recent years, RESO has grown from a largely American effort to a membership spanning many continents. At the 2023 RESO Fall Conference, leaders from three international organizations shared how data standards are benefiting them.
Key members of the executive team of Stellar MLS, the largest Multiple Listing Service in Florida and Puerto Rico, and the third-largest in the U.S., joined colleagues from around the globe at a forum in Paris, France, to share best practices for driving innovation and efficiency in the real estate industry.
The City of Lights recently played host to a groundbreaking event that is making waves in the global real estate community. Organized by the Real Estate Standards Organization (RESO), the European Association of Real Estate Professions (CEPI) and Realtyna, the International MLS Forum held in Paris brought together industry leaders, professionals and speakers from 35+ countries to promote data standards and solutions for the next generation of real estate.
The inaugural Internation MLS Forum was held in Paris in 2023. It was sponsored by two nonprofits, CEPI and RESO. We sometimes take MLS for granted in the U.S. In most of the rest of the world, there are only Open Listings (nonexclusive listings given to many brokers).
The MLS™ and VESTAPLUS™ Software proudly announce the participation of CEO Annie Ives and President Matthew Ogden in the upcoming International MLS Forum in Paris, France. Industry leaders worldwide will delve into critical discussions on real estate data standards, collaboration, transparency and AI innovation.
La Secretaría de la CEPI se complace en anunciar su próxima conferencia internacional sobre sistemas MLS en Europa, en colaboración con la Organización Internacional de Estándares Inmobiliarios (RESO) y nuestro socio digital de confianza, Realtyna.
Key members of the executive team of Stellar MLS will take center stage this weekend at an international forum in Paris, France, focused on the future of MLSs worldwide. Stellar MLS CEO Merri Jo Cowen, COO Shayne Fairley and VP of Technology & Innovation Mathew Kallumadil will join fellow industry leaders from five continents and 40 countries to share best practices for driving innovation and efficiency in the real estate industry.
Marika Abuashvili is a highly experienced professional with over 25+ years of expertise in the real estate sector in Seattle, Washington. Throughout her career, she has held various roles, including managing broker, marketing and sales specialist, agent coach, and technology manager, allowing her to gain comprehensive knowledge of the industry.
Dan Negulescu is a distinguished real estate broker with a deep passion for international real estate. As a visionary promoter of the Exclusive Representation (Agency) concept in Europe, Dan has been at the forefront of shaping the European real estate landscape.
Zola is a seasoned real estate professional with a passion for helping clients buy, sell and invest in beautiful Central Florida and beyond. Originally from Hungary, Zola’s journey in real estate began when he purchased his first investment property in Pennsylvania. After moving to Orlando in 2000, he quickly realized that real estate was his true calling.
Giselle Abadi is a visionary technical leader with an intense passion for the innovation and design of intricate systems. Her unwavering persistence, paired with her motto “Continual Improvement,” has positioned Realtyna distinctively in the proptech market, offering the most comprehensive suite of tools and services for the real estate industry across various platforms and for all levels.
Global real estate leaders are pushing to bring the U.S. model of standardization and collaboration to more real estate markets around the world. In the last decade, data standards and technology have transformed the way real estate is bought and sold in the U.S. Now industry leaders from various countries want to adopt key aspects of this model to enhance the transparency and efficiency of their own real estate sectors.
Joe served as the Director of Global Strategy and Engagement at the National Association of REALTORS®.
As legal and regulatory debates rage on in the United States over the value of Multiple Listing Services (MLSs), a panel at the RESO conference in San Diego called "Crossing Continents: Global Standards Expansion," shared that the way MLSs aggregate and distribute real estate data is, in fact, the envy of the world.
The International MLS Forum: Global Real Estate Standards will host real estate leaders from more than 32 countries at Pullman Montparnasse in Paris, France.