T
he Southeast is becoming a hub for multiple listing service (MLS) collaboration, with several data-sharing partnerships forming across the region in recent years. FMLS, Georgia's fifth-largest MLS with 57,000 members, has partnered with three smaller Alabama MLSs - Greater Alabama MLS, Gulf Coast MLS, and East Alabama Board of Realtors - to create a "collaborative listing network". This partnership allows approximately 67,000 agents to share listings and referrals across the combined coverage area.

    The agreement is an alternative to consolidation, which can be challenging for MLS owners who want to maintain control. Data sharing, on the other hand, offers an expansion-based opportunity that allows real estate professionals to access more data without changing platforms. This broader reach is essential in today's rapidly evolving real estate landscape.

    The partnership comes at a perfect time, as inventory remains below pre-pandemic levels and many active listings have grown stale. The collaboration will provide buyers with access to a wider inventory of homes for sale throughout the Southeast region, while sellers' listings will be visible to more real estate professionals representing buyers.

    This is not the only data-sharing partnership in the region. Other notable collaborations include the Coast 2 Coast MLS Data Share in Florida, North Carolina Regional MLS's addition of three Georgia MLSs, and the Southeast MLS Alliance, which brings together four MLSs to share data across six states. BeachesMLS in Florida has also entered into agreements with Bright MLS and California Regional MLS, further expanding its reach.