Key facts
- Jessica Edgerton has assumed leadership of the Council of MLSs (CMLS).
- Edgerton believes MLSs are essential and neutral foundational infrastructure for the real estate industry.
- She aims to protect and educate consumers about the benefits of the MLS system.
- Edgerton plans to increase CMLS's advocacy in legislative discussions.
- She will focus on improving broker-MLS relationships and providing resources for innovation.
Jessica Edgerton has taken the helm of the Council of MLSs (CMLS) at a time of significant uncertainty and evolving dynamics within the real estate industry. Edgerton stated that the challenging environment is precisely why she decided to take on the role, emphasizing her belief in the MLS system's crucial advantage for consumers in terms of transparency and efficiency.
In her previous position as chief legal officer for Leading Real Estate Companies of the World, Edgerton gained a deeper appreciation for the U.S. MLS system. She expressed concern that the industry might drift away from the MLS as an anchor and is committed to preventing that. Edgerton believes MLSs should be recognized as "deeply essential" and "neutral parties" that serve as the foundational infrastructure for the industry, regardless of other market developments.
Edgerton views the current competition and innovation within the MLS space as beneficial for consumers, drawing from her background in antitrust. She argues that if MLSs are undermined by these competitive battles, the resulting industry environment will be less effective. She envisions MLSs as the enduring structure upon which innovation can be built, providing neutral, complete, and real-time data.