Last month, NAR rolled out a new MLS policy they’re calling “Multiple Listing Options for Sellers.” The idea is to let sellers delay when their listings appear on IDX sites and third-party portals, even while they’re actively marketing the property. It’s optional for MLSs, and CRMLS didn’t waste any time reviewing it—and flat out said no.
Why? Because we don’t need it. CRMLS’s current system already gives brokers the ability to opt out of IDX and syndication. Adding a new listing category just to hit a checkbox creates more problems than it solves. We’re talking more confusion, more compliance issues, and more explaining to do with sellers who just want to know where their listing is showing up online.
I’ve said before that creating silos of information in real estate does more harm than good. And this policy is a step in the wrong direction. VOW feeds (which many big portals already use) would still show the listings, while the thousands of IDX websites—including the ones agents actually control—get left out. So sure, listings would be “hidden” from Realtor.com and smaller broker sites, but still show up on Zillow or Redfin. Try explaining that to a seller.
CRMLS nailed it in their statement: transparency should be the hallmark of any MLS. And this kind of selective visibility isn’t transparency—it’s misdirection. Let’s not forget, this whole policy came about as a compromise to keep certain large brokerages from undermining the Clear Cooperation Policy. We’ve seen what happens when listings get hoarded in private networks, and it’s not good for the industry or the consumer.
So CRMLS is sticking with their existing Active status, which already checks most of the boxes in NAR’s policy. And they’re exploring ways to strengthen listing-specific privacy settings without adding a bunch of new statuses or loopholes. That’s the right move. Agents need clarity. Sellers need consistency. And buyers need access.
In short: stop messing with the rules just to appease the loudest voices in the room. Let’s focus on getting the job done and doing it in the open.