Why MLS CEO Saul Klein Uses RPR View™ for Data Sharing
PropTech innovator, MLS visionary, and real estate technology pioneer Saul Klein recently shared his insights on why sharing on-market listings nationwide through RPR is in the best interest of REALTORS® and consumers.
Saul is currently the CEO of the San Diego MLS. With a career spanning nearly five decades and counting, his influence and impact on MLSs and technology in the real estate industry is unparalleled.
His resume is a laundry list of digital age adoption and dot com real estate ventures and successes, including being one of the original members of the Realtor.com® team and the creator of RealTown, one of the first online real estate communities, plus GeoData and Point2Homes, among others. He was also instrumental in creating the ePRO Technology Certification Program for the National Association of REALTORS®.
Saul makes the calls
After he became the CEO of the San Diego MLS (SDMLS), one of his first decisions was to spearhead innovative solutions by moving forward with data and listing sharing with MLSs and Associations across the nation. Saul confidently did this via RPR View™. (San Diego MLS Expands Reach With Nationwide On-Market Display Initiative Through RPR View™). The SDMLS is the 275th MLS to enable the display of Active listings to all REALTORS® nationwide through RPR View™.
Saul believes the future of MLSs lies in more collaboration and sharing, a concept he sees in RPR as a digital aggregator.
“We wanted to maximize exposure for Broker listings through RPR View™. In my opinion, REALTORS® should know more about the property and the surrounding properties than anyone. I believe that displaying our on-market listings nationwide through RPR will keep REALTORS® at the center of the transaction. RPR is a perfect example of that vision.”
Data sharing is part of the future of MLSs
We asked Saul about the timing of joining RPR’s data sharing system and why he feels so strongly about data sharing as a concept. “I became the CEO of the San Diego MLS in December of 2023 and RPR View™, sharing listings data with other MLSs, was one of the first things that was presented to me. I have a history with RPR, and I trust RPR. It just made a lot of sense to me.”
By extending its data-sharing capabilities, SDMLS is poised to increase the visibility of its listings nationwide. We asked Saul to elaborate on why this is an important issue.
Saul said, “I'm an advocate of data sharing, I think it's valuable. It gives agents exposure to San Diego, which is a very desirable area. People from around the world want to buy property in San Diego. Through RPR View™, if you have listings in San Diego, you can expand the potential market by making the property available to more eyes. And vice versa for folks who want to move here. To be able to do that through a trusted source is a no-brainer.”
As someone who has called many shots in the industry, especially regarding technology and data, we had to ask Saul about where he sees MLSs and data sharing in the future. “Well, I can tell you what I would like to see. I would like to see MLSs working together to share their data, to make it easier for properties to be seen and to make it easier for people who work with buyers to see more availability. I believe data sharing is part of the future of MLSs.”
Parting words… Saul on AI and RPR awareness
Access to accurate, up-to-date information is key in the competitive and ever-evolving real estate market. When MLS CEOs such as Saul Klein embrace cutting-edge tools such as RPR View™, it can significantly enhance data sharing capabilities, streamline operations and improve member services.
Speaking of cutting-edge tools, we asked Saul his opinion on AI in real estate, from an agent’s point of view. “I was the evangelist for technology in the real estate industry. I believe AI is just part of the evolution of the use of technology in real estate,” he said. “There are a lot of benefits, and a lot of things will happen over the next three, four or five years, and that it's coming faster than people think. The RPR ScriptWriter is a perfect way for agents to try it out, because it will help agents be more productive.”
Any final thoughts, Saul? “I believe that RPR is a wonderful asset–I'm a fan! It’s a real reason to be a REALTOR®. Because only REALTORS® can access it, it enhances the NAR value proposition.”
We couldn’t have said it any better! The adoption of RPR View™ and agent RPR usage represents a strategic move towards enhanced data sharing, improved subscriber services and superior market insights. By leveraging the capabilities of this powerful tool, MLSs can ensure they remain at the forefront of the real estate industry, providing their members with the accurate, comprehensive information they need to succeed.
Embracing RPR View™ is about more than keeping up with technological advancements; it’s about leading the way in an increasingly data-driven world.
To learn more about enabling RPR View™ in your market, reach out to the RPR Industry Relations team at: [email protected].
The downside is that RPR is only available to REALTORS and is not made accessible to non-REALTORS, therefore sharing data is very limited. FMLS instead does native data shares that are available to all 57,000 subscribers regardless of their NAR Trade Organization affiliation. Not doing so would restrict sharing data to over 25,000 FMLS licensed real estate agents who are not members of NAR.