Russ Cofano and Amit Kulkarni of Alloy Advisors are among the group that created the “Handbook of MLS Access in the Post-NAR Policy Era.”
Two real estate industry veterans launched a new initiative Wednesday aimed at creating a new path to MLS access for agents and brokers who don’t want to join a real estate agent organization, Inman has exclusively learned.
The move follows changes in November by the National Association of Realtors, which voted to allow local multiple listing services to decide what kind of access they allow to non-Realtors. It also comes amid an industry trend toward offering options at every turn, after years of bitter legal battles.
The initiative is called the “Playbook for MLS Access in the Post-NAR Policy Era.” The company is looking to provide a full-service solution to a number of MLSs that are rumored to be considering allowing non-real estate agents access to property information, state-approved forms, lockbox access, and other tools brokers and agents need to run their businesses.
Industry veterans Ras Cofano and Amit Kulkarni, who recently teamed up to launch Alloy Advisors, are spearheading this effort. In an interview with Inman, Cofano noted that MLSs could face political, legal and financial challenges if they make the switch and provide access to non-real estate agents. Andy Fegley, CEO of Phoenix Realtors, is also working on this initiative.
Las Cofano
“There are a lot of business, legal and political landmines for any organization to navigate,” Cofano said. “Between the three of us and our outside counsel, we have all the experience necessary to help them get through this.”
“I’m not saying all associations should go down this path,” Cofano added. “What we are saying is that all associations should have a dialogue at leadership level to decide whether this path is right for them, and the strategy fundamentally acknowledges that.”
Alloy Advisors is offering a free information session to interested parties to discuss the situation. Clients then move on to consider alternative models, revenue, product modeling, etc.
NAR removed Policy Statement 7.7, which addressed access to multiple listing services, from the MLS Handbook at the NAR NXT Annual Meeting held in Houston last year. At the time, it said requiring membership for three-party real estate agents was a “matter of local discretion.”
An Inman survey of dozens of the largest MLSs conducted later that month found growing interest among some multiple listing services to separate real estate agent membership from access to MLS resources.
Some of the nation’s largest MLSs already offer options for members who are not real estate agents. A new initiative by Alloy Advisors will tap into the interest of those who are not yet exploring or implementing such changes.
In late 2024, Phoenix Realtors made a splash by announcing a membership option known as MLS Choice. This will give brokers access to state-compliant forms, legal aid, and continuing education for a $249 membership fee. Agents were not required to be members of NAR to use MLS Choice.
In response, NAR issued a cease-and-desist letter and threatened legal action if the changes proceeded. The parties later reached a settlement agreement after Phoenix Realtors changed its plans to clarify that subscribers to the new membership service were not real estate agents and could not use such branding.
Fegley told Inman this week that the Arizona Regional Multiple Listing Service has been offering MLS-only access to non-real estate agents.
“But it was strictly an MLS thing. We didn’t really have a choice,” Fegley said. “By enhancing our MLS-only program services and products, we have created options for brokers to consider and can now consider offering those options to agents.”
“If anything, what we’ve learned over the last three or four years is that choice matters to consumers,” Fegley added. “That really opened the door and created options for brokers to consider.”
The group that formed Alloy Advisors noted that after the NAR reversed course in November, organizations will have to make some choices, whether to offer broader tools to non-members or continue to require members for access.
Amit Kulkarni
“Associations have to do it now to really protect themselves,” said Kulkarni, who previously served as chief marketing officer of BrightMLS, the nation’s largest MLS. “Any decision you make can involve some level of risk and responsibility.”
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