Connecticut multi-listing services merge to cover 98% of homes
Real estate platform SmartMLS, created from the merger of the Greater Fairfield County CMLS and the Connecticut Multiple Listing Service, has begun operations, covering all eight counties in Connecticut, and between 95% and 98% of home listings in the state, according to SmartMLS's president, Michael Barbaro. The platform, which estate agents pay a fee to access, offers a one-stop shop for consumers and is intended to make life easier for estate agents by unifying the two services.

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The phones were abuzz on a recent morning at the Norwalk offices of the newly rebranded SmartMLS headquarters. Staff members fielded calls from real estate agents across the state who are adjusting to the new platform that, for the first time, features the majority of Connecticut’s home listings all in one place.

It’s been a little more than a week since the new platform debuted and, aside from a few growing pains, it’s been a clean transition combining the two companies that together back the majority of the state’s real estate community, said SmartMLS co-CEO Kathy Elson.

The merger that resulted in SmartMLS, which has offices in Norwalk and Wallingford where its predecessor companies were based, was announced this spring after just a few months of negotiations. “We did this in record time,” SmartMLS President Michael Barbaro said in an interview.

The merger represents the industry’s attempt to stay relevant as home buyers and sellers increasingly look to online resources such as Trulia and Zillow for consolidated sets of information during their home searches, SmartMLS leadership said.

“Consumers demand one-stop shopping, and in almost every other industry that’s available,” Barbaro said. “I believe we’ve answered consumer demand. Consumers want to be able to shop in a broad manner, and we’ve given them what they want with one complete data set.”

SmartMLS includes almost all home listings in the state, except for some in Darien, Greenwich and New Canaan, which operate independent listing services for their agents. The information is only accessible by member Realtors.

A long time coming

Realtors who want to help clients buy or sell homes outside of those three communities have all transitioned to SmartMLS, which is the merged operations of the Greater Fairfield County CMLS and The Connecticut Multiple Listing Service. SmartMLS covers all eight Connecticut counties, roughly 96 percent of the state’s Realtors and between 95 and 98 percent of home listings in the state, Barbaro said.

Prior to the merger, real estate agents had to choose to become a member and pay fees to either or both of the organizations to see the home listing associated with each.

“This makes Realtors’ lives easier,” Elson said, adding that discussions first rose 10 to 12 years ago. “It’s the best thing for Connecticut real estate.”

Within the real estate community, the consolidation has been a long time coming, according to Cynthia Hughes, the secretary of the Northern Fairfield County Association of Realtors and an agent with Coldwell Banker in Danbury.

“It’s almost like a piece of history because people have been wanting this for a long time. This is amazing - it’s the real deal,” Hughes said. “The MLS is the main industry tool used by Realtors. It’s the only true, definitive database of properties on the market.”

The consolidated database will be more cost-effective and efficient, she added, as agents who were previously a member of both don’t have to pay fees to two entities.

“I’m licensed to sell and show homes anywhere in Connecticut, from Danbury to Willimantic, but my MLS searches had been limited. I’d have to join the other MLS services in order to see the homes,” she said.

Others echoed Hughes’ positive outlook. “I like being able to have access to the rest of the state now,” said Tammy Felenstein, who’s the Stamford-based executive director of sales for Halstead Real Estate. “It gives us more information and more accurate information.”

Setting an example

SmartMLS markets itself as ranking among the nation’s 20 largest multiple listing services by membership. Across the country, there’s a trend of consolidation in the real estate industry which is likely to continue.

“The trend in the industry is to eliminate borders,” Elson said, adding the “door is open” for Darien, New Canaan and Greenwich if they opt to join.

Peg Koellmer, owner of Realty Seven in Wilton and president of the Mid Fairfield County Association of Realtors based in Westport, expressed hope that eventually all three will consider the option.

In Greenwich, at least, that’s not looking likely. In December, the Greenwich Association of Realtors, which operates the town’s MLS, discussed the option but “there was no inclination to do anything at that time, said Theresa Hatton, GAR executive vice president.

Since the SmartMLS merger was announced, Greenwich Realtors have contacted Hatton to ensure they would not be participating, she said.

“Our brokerages are not the same brokerages that are found across the state, she said. “Ours are mostly New York City-based, so when we talk to them, they didn’t care what the rest of state was doing because it doesn’t affect them so much.”

Home buyers seldom look for properties in both Greenwich and places like New Haven or Groton, Hatton said, so the larger data set provided by SmartMLS is irrelevant to GAR members.

Real estate transacts differently here than in most other parts of the state,” she said, adding that Greenwich would consider a merger between metro New York City markets, she said.

In the future, MLS mergers may go beyond state borders and encompass regions, Barbaro said.

“There’s definitely an appetite for that. Though locales may prevent that. But, in my opinion, that’s the direction we’re heading,” he said. “We’re setting an example for the rest of the country in Connecticut and we hope they’ll follow. Consumers desire and expect it.”

— Includes reporting by Chris Bosak, Paul Schott and Alexander Soule.

Contact the writer at mbennett@greenwichtime.com; Twitter @Macaela_