Section 1: Authority

The association of REALTORS® shall maintain for the use of its members a multiple listing service, which shall be subject to the bylaws of the association of REALTORS® and such rules and regulations as may be hereinafter adopted. M

Section 2: Purpose

A multiple listing service is a means by which cooperation among participants is enhanced; by which information is accumulated and disseminated to enable authorized participants to prepare appraisals, analyses, and other valuations of real property for bona fide clients and customers; by which participants engaging in real estate appraisal contribute to common databases; and is a facility for the orderly correlation and dissemination of listing information so participants may better serve their clients and the public. (Amended 8/24) M

Section 3: Participation

Any REALTOR® of this or any other association who is a principal, partner, corporate officer, or branch office manager acting on behalf of a principal, without further qualification, except as otherwise stipulated in these bylaws, shall be eligible to participate in multiple listing upon agreeing in writing to conform to the rules and regulations thereof and to pay the costs incidental thereto. However, under no circumstances is any individual or firm, regardless of membership status, entitled to multiple listing service membership or participation unless they hold a current, valid real estate broker’s license and cooperate, or are licensed or certified by an appropriate state regulatory agency to engage in the appraisal of real property.** Cooperation is the obligation to share information on listed property and to make property available to other brokers for showing to prospective purchasers and tenants when it is in the best interest of their clients. Use of information developed by or published by an association multiple listing service is strictly limited to the activities authorized under a participant’s licensure(s) or certification and unauthorized uses are prohibited. Further, none of the foregoing is intended to convey participation or membership or any right of access to information developed by or published by an association multiple listing service where access to such information is prohibited by law.

Mere possession of a broker’s license is not sufficient to qualify for MLS participation. Rather, the requirement that an individual or firmcooperates means that the participant actively endeavor during the operation of its real estate business to list real property of the type listed on the MLS, share information on listed property and make property available to other brokers for showing to prospective purchasers and tenants when it is in the best interests of their client(s). “Actively” means on a continual and ongoing basis during the operation of the participant’s real estate business. The “actively” requirement is not intended to preclude MLS participation by a participant or potential participant that operates a real estate business on a part-time, seasonal, or similarly time-limited basis or that has its business interrupted by periods of relative inactivity occasioned by market conditions. Similarly, the requirement is not intended to deny MLS participation to a participant or potential participant who has not achieved a minimum number of transactions despite good faith efforts. Nor is it intended to permit an MLS to deny participation based on the level of service provided by the participant or potential participant as long as the level of service satisfies state law. *Optional qualifications which may be adopted at the local association’s discretion: Any applicant for MLS participation and any licensee (including licensed or certified appraisers) affiliated with an MLS participant who has access to and use of MLS-generated information shall complete an orientation program of no more than eight (8) classroom hours devoted to the MLS rules and regulations and computer training related to MLS information entry and retrieval within thirty (30) days after access has been provided. 

Associations are not required to establish prerequisites for MLS participation beyond holding REALTOR® (principal) membership in an association. However, if the association wishes to establish these requirements for MLS participation or for access to MLS-generated information, the requirement of attendance at an orientation program is the most rigorous requirement that may be established. 

**Generally, associations of REALTORS®, when there is more than one principal in a real estate firm, define the chief principal officer of the firm as the MLS participant. If each principal is defined as a participant, then each shall have a separate vote on MLS matters. Brokers or salespersons other than principals are not considered participants in the service, but have access to and use of the service through the principal(s) with whom they are affiliated.

The key is that the participant or potential participant actively endeavors to cooperate with respect to properties of the type that are listed on the MLS in which participation is sought. Cooperation is the obligation to share information on listed property and to make property available to other brokers for showing to prospective purchasers and tenants when it is in the best interest of their clients. This requirement does not permit an MLS to deny participation to a participant or potential participant that operates a “Virtual Office Website” (VOW) (including a VOW that the participant uses to refer customers to other participants) if the participant or potential participant actively endeavors to cooperate. An MLS may evaluate whether a participant or potential participant actively endeavors during the operation of its real estate business to cooperate only if the MLS has a reasonable basis to believe that the participant or potential participant is in fact not doing so. The membership requirement shall be applied in a nondiscriminatory manner to all participants and potential participants.

Optional Provision for Establishing Nonmember Participatory Rights (Open MLS)*

*Only adopt this paragraph if the association’s MLS is open to nonmember participants (otherwise qualified individuals who do not hold REALTOR® membership anywhere).

A nonmember applicant for MLS participation who is a principal, partner, corporate officer, or branch office manager acting on behalf of a principal, shall supply evidence satisfactory to the membership committee that he has no record of recent or pending bankruptcy; has no record of official sanctions involving unprofessional conduct; agrees to complete a course of instruction (if any) covering the MLS rules and regulations and computer training related to MLS information entry and retrieval, and shall pass such reasonable and non-discriminatory written examination thereon as may be required by the MLS; and shall agree that if elected as a participant, he will abide by such rules and regulations and pay the MLS fees and dues, including the nonmember differential (if any), as from time to time established. Under no circumstances is any individual or firm entitled to MLS Participation or membership unless they hold a current, valid real estate broker’s license and cooperate or are licensed or certified by an appropriate state regulatory agency to engage in the appraisal of real property. Cooperation is the obligation to share information on listed property and to make property available to other brokers for showing to prospective purchasers and tenants when it is in the best interest of their clients. Use of information developed by or published by an association multiple listing service is strictly limited to the activities authorized under a participant’s licensure(s) or certification and unauthorized uses are prohibited. Further, none of the foregoing is intended to convey participation or membership or any right of access to information developed by or published by an association multiple listing service where access to such information is prohibited by law.

Mere possession of a broker’s license is not sufficient to qualify for MLS participation. Rather, the requirement that an individual or firm cooperates means that the participant actively endeavor during the operation of its real state business to list real property of the type listed on the MLS, share information on listed property and make property available to other brokers for showing to prospective puchasers and tenants when it is in the best interests of their client. “Actively” means on a continual and ongoing basis during the operation of the participant’s real estate business. The “actively” requirement is not intended to preclude MLS participation by a participant or potential participant that operates a real estate business on a part-time, seasonal, or similarly time-limited basis or that has its business interrupted by periods of relative inactivity occasioned by market conditions. Similarly, the requirement is not intended to deny MLS participation to a participant or potential participant who has not achieved a minimum number of transactions despite good faith efforts. Nor is it intended to permit an MLS to deny participation based on the level of service provided by the participant or potential participant as long as the level of service satisfies state law.

The key is that the participant or potential participant cooperate with respect to properties of the type that are listed on the MLS in which participation is sought. Cooperation is the obligation to share information on listed property and to make property available to other brokers for showing to prospective purchasers and tenants when it is in the best interest of their clients. This requirement does not permit an MLS to deny participation to a participant or potential participant that operates a “Virtual Office Website” (VOW) (including a VOW that the participant uses to refer customers to other participants) if the participant or potential participant actively endeavors to cooperate. An MLS may evaluate whether a participant or potential participant actively endeavors during the operation of its real estate business to cooperate only if the MLS has a reasonable basis to believe that the participant or potential participant is in fact not doing so. The membership requirement shall be applied in a nondiscriminatory manner to all participants and potential participants.

Note 1: The requirements of (1) no record of recent or pending bankruptcy; (2) no record of official sanctions involving unprofessional conduct; and (3) completion of a course of instruction on the MLS rules and regulations and computer training related to MLS information entry and retrieval may be deleted from this section at the option of each association. In states where law requires non-association members be admitted to the MLS of an association of REALTORS®, any limitations or restrictions imposed on participation or membership shall be no more stringent than permissible under the National Association’s membership qualification criteria. However, in states where non-association member access to the MLS is not a requirement of state law, associations may, at their discretion, establish additional qualifications for non-association member participation and membership in the MLS. (Amended 11/96)

Note 2: An association may also choose to have the membership committee consider the following when determining a nonmember applicant’s qualifications for MLS participation or membership:

  • all final findings of Code of Ethics violations and violations of other membership duties in any other association within the past three (3) years
  • pending ethics complaints (or hearings)
  • unsatisfied discipline pending
  • pending arbitration requests (or hearings)
  • unpaid arbitration awards or unpaid financial obligations to any other association or association MLS. (Amended 8/24) M

Section 4: Supervision

The activity shall be operated under the supervision of the multiple listing committee in accordance with the rules and regulations, subject to the approval of the board of directors of the association of REALTORS®. R

Section 5: Appointment of Committee

The president shall appoint, subject to confirmation by the board of directors, a multiple listing committee of _____ REALTOR® members. All members of the committee shall be participants in multiple listing except, at the option of the local association, REALTORS® or REALTOR-ASSOCIATE®s affiliated with participants may be appointed to serve in such numbers as determined by the local association. The committee members so named shall serve two-year staggered terms.* The committee shall select its chairperson from among the members thereof. (The chairperson may be designated by the president.) R

*Associations have the option to establish a longer or shorter term for service on the committee and need not provide for staggered terms for committee appointments. (Adopted 11/96)

Section 6: Vacancies

Vacancies in unexpired terms shall be filled as in the case of original appointees. R

Section 7: Attendance

Any committee member who fails to attend three (3) consecutive regular or special meetings of the committee, without excuse acceptable to the chairperson of the committee, shall be deemed to have resigned from the committee and the vacancy shall be filled as herein provided for original appointees. R

Section 8: Subscribers

Subscribers (or users) of the MLS include non-principal brokers, sales associates, and licensed and certified appraisers affiliated with participants. (Optional provision: Subscribers also include affiliated unlicensed administrative and clerical staff, personal assistants, and individuals seeking licensure or certification as real estate appraisers who are under the direct supervision of an MLS participant or the participant’s licensed designee.) (Adopted 4/92) R

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