NAR’s policy statement offers caution but avoids clarity. Until the association clearly defines what control means in the age of AI, it risks losing both the tree and the forest.
This announcement is about reclaiming control over the data infrastructure that underpins the real estate industry. RealAPI represents digital sovereignty, a future where MLSs and brokers control how their data is accessed, who uses it, and what value is returned.
Agents leave because they think something might be better. FOBO doesn’t come from dissatisfaction. It comes from doubt.
CoreHome doesn’t try to replace the agent. It amplifies them with better timing, better visibility, and tools that work with the way they already operate.
It is a logical evolution of customer for life solutions, but it also raises new questions about privacy, data sharing, and competitive dependence.
If MLSs provide a standardized, policy-compliant way for AI systems to query listing data (with proper guardrails), then any broker or authorized app can use it and we maintain a level playing field and oversight.
Zillow built its business on cooperation. Now it’s the MLS’s job to defend it.
AI is more than just technology; it is an extension of organizational memory, judgment, and foresight, expressed through software.
If consumers begin to feel the platform is steering them into costly, undisclosed arrangements, that trust frays. And once lost, it’s difficult to rebuild.
These agreements underscore the MLS’s role as a foundational asset for the industry. Brokers, teams, agents, and clients all benefit from a more connected system that delivers accuracy, transparency, and reach.
By bringing AI into the CRM itself, Real Estate Webmasters avoids the distraction of standalone tools and makes AI a natural part of the sales process.
Size matters in this battle. If State Associations and leading Franchises that serve over 100,000 real estate agents start selecting the same provider, a king will be crowned.
