MLSListings Inc., the multiple listing service provider of the Silicon Valley Association of Realtors, and six other leading MLSs in Northern California, officially launched the NorCal MLS Alliance last week. The data share collaborative will give Silicon Valley brokers, Realtors, appraisers and their counterparts in Northern California one-stop single-login access to thousands of listings throughout 22 counties, from the Greater Bay Area and Silicon Valley, to as far south as Monterey County, and up through the Central Valley to Sacramento and Nevada.
When fully implemented the seven-member alliance will benefit over 55,000 brokers and agents who serve more than 11.5 million people across over 20,000 square miles. According to officials, this means homebuyers and sellers will have expanded property listing search options and more marketing exposure for their properties.
This development is being hailed by Realtor associations in the Bay Area. "This collaboration, along with new innovations in MLS technology enables us to provide our members and subscribers with easier access to a familiar platform and comprehensive data from neighboring markets," said Walt Baczkowski, chief executive officer of the San Francisco Association of Realtors, in a press release. "The simplicity of a single login, single pay MLS membership/subscription gives real estate professionals comprehensive access to more data."
Realtors and brokers will have easy access to property listings throughout a wide geographic area from their respective MLS platforms. The alliance will include properties in Alameda, Amador, Contra Costa, El Dorado, Marin, Mendocino, Merced, Monterey, Napa, Nevada, Placer, Sacramento, San Benito, San Francisco, San Joaquin, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Solano, Sonoma, Stanislaus and Yolo counties.
"This unprecedented collaboration will provide an expanded data share system by opening a much wider area for our members and will allow them to better serve their clients," said Paul Cardus, CEO of the Silicon Valley Association of Realtors.
At a meeting last week with members of SILVAR, MLSListings officials said brokers and agents will experience significant benefits from the new expanded data system while continuing to utilize familiar technologies from their home MLS systems. It will also reduce the number of data feeds (including IDX) necessary to run their businesses and eliminate the need for multiple entry of listings into various regional MLS systems, saving time and money.
The NORCAL MLS Alliance unites four separate MLS operating systems and databases-Rapattoni, Black Knight's Paragon, dynaConnections' connectMLS System, and CoreLogic's Matrix systems. According to Robert Bustamante, MLSListings Director of Compliance, joining one MLS will open access to data from six other MLSs. Each MLS will maintain its own platform, rules, and protocols. Lockbox and key systems will not change, and coverage areas will maintain separate key codes.
The NORCAL MLS Alliance grew from the existing MLS reciprocal access model and will continue to evolve as technology improves. Bustamante said efforts will continue to have additional regional MLSs sign on to provide members and subscribers with greater access to MLS data across the state.
"We pride ourselves in our ability to evolve and keep current so our members can stay relevant today," said Bustamante.
The Silicon Valley Association of REALTORS® (SILVAR) is a professional trade organization representing over 4,000 REALTORS® and Affiliate members engaged in the real estate business on the Peninsula and in the South Bay. SILVAR promotes the highest ethical standards of real estate practice, serves as an advocate for homeownership and homeowners, and represents the interests of property owners in Silicon Valley.
The term "REALTOR®" is a registered collective membership mark which identifies a real estate professional who is a member of the National Association of REALTORS® and who subscribes to its strict Code of Ethics.
Variations of this article have appeared in local area newspapers.
For further information, please email or call the SILVAR office at (408) 200-0100.