Jessica Edgerton, who recently became CEO of the Council of Multiple Listing Services after spending a decade as chief legal officer at Leading Real Estate Companies of the World, opened the CMLS Open House 2026 conference with a message about embracing discomfort and breaking down barriers in real estate. According to HousingWire, she told attendees that the industry needs to move quickly and encourage disagreement as a path to creativity and innovation. She quoted management theorist Peter Drucker to emphasize that meaningful decisions require differing viewpoints and that avoiding conflict can actually hold back progress.
One of Edgerton's major announcements was the creation of a new advocacy position at CMLS designed to amplify the voice of multiple listing services across the country. She explained that while CMLS will continue working alongside the National Association of Realtors at the federal level, the organization plans to pursue its own independent efforts at state and local levels. Edgerton noted that many lawmakers lack basic understanding of what an MLS actually does, and she felt it was important for the MLS community to have a stronger, more direct seat at the table when legislation is being considered.
Edgerton also unveiled a new broker membership tier at CMLS, which she sees as a way to bring brokerage voices into the conversation. According to the reporting, eXp Realty and HomeServices of America have already signed on as broker members and supporters of the MLS advocacy program. She was vocal about her belief that real estate has operated too much in silos over the years, creating what she called an echo chamber effect that holds back progress and collaboration.
Looking forward, Edgerton laid out plans for CMLS to host four regional in-person events in the coming year, with a larger conference planned in Dallas in 2027. She emphasized the need to move faster, describing it as essential for the organization to achieve its bigger and stronger goals. Throughout her remarks, Edgerton presented herself as approachable and eager to hear input from industry members, openly inviting people to share ideas and concerns with her directly.
What I am seeing locally here in the Bay Area and across the East Bay is that these conversations about modernization and breaking down silos are hitting home. Our market has always been competitive and innovation-focused, so when leadership at a national level starts pushing for faster decision-making and better advocacy around how MLS systems work, it matters for folks like the brokers and agents I work with every day. The stronger that voice becomes for our listing services and the more brokers are engaged in shaping policy, the better positioned we all are to serve our clients effectively as regulations continue to evolve.
