This episode is brought to you by the International MLS Forum, the global meeting focused on how real estate markets organize listing data, licensing, and standards across the globe. It brings together MLS leaders, regulators, brokers, and technology providers to allow real time and transparent real estate data exchange, cross border corporation, and market trust. The next meeting will be held in November, 2026 in Abu Dhabi. Register with the link here: https://mlsforum.org/ In this in-depth conversation with Saul Klein, CEO of San Diego MLS, we explore the evolution of the Multiple Listing Service from printed books to digitized “Golden Record” databases that power portals like Realtor.com. Time Stamps: 00:00 Sponsor: International MLS Forum (Abu Dhabi 2026) 00:26 Meet Saul Klein: Real estate tech pioneer & MLS leader 03:26 Navy computers to real estate: learning to trust systems 10:40 Failure tolerance, trust, and getting people to adopt tech 13:49 Internet era paradigm shift: from protecting listings to transparency 15:41 How MLS began: brokers cooperating, books, and digitization 19:21 MLS rules that made it work: exclusives & mandatory submission 21:02 Who got the MLS book? Confidential access, updates, and misuse 24:42 Why exclusivity mattered: compensation, culture, and MLS enforcement 28:20 MLS as data steward: keeping the book clean, current, and deduped 28:55 MLS as the “Golden Record”: Rules, Timeliness, and Data Trust 30:24 Policing the Database: Fines vs. Education to Keep Listings Accurate 32:29 Exclusive Contracts & Avoiding Bait-and-Switch (Why Trust Needs Enforcement) 33:53 Non-Exclusive Listings, Duplicates, and the Early Portal Problem 36:19 Realtor.com Origins: Built on MLS Feeds (Not Seller Submissions) in 1995 38:12 NAR, the MLS Handbook, and Antitrust/Insurance Incentives Behind the Rules 43:18 What’s Next for MLS: Portals, Big Broker Tech Stacks, and the Value of Transparency 47:24 Dubai’s Government-Backed MLS Model & the Future Shaped by Litigation/Regulation 53:17 Magic Wand Moment: Global Data Standards (RESO) as the Foundation 55:08 Wrap-Up, Contact Info, and International MLS Forum Promo (Abu Dhabi 2026) From Navy computer systems to real estate technology, this discussion reveals how trust, standards, and enforcement built one of the most resilient data infrastructures in real estate history. If you're a broker, portal operator, regulator, PropTech founder, or government exploring MLS implementation, this conversation is essential viewing. You can contact Saul Klein here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/saulkleincfp/
