California MLS holds first board meeting, appoints board chairman

The statewide MLS approved by C.A.R. has been formed and held its first board meeting May 1.  Called the California MLS (CALMLS), the entity adopted bylaws and MLS Rules, and approved a Request for Proposal from the MLS vendors for the computer system operating the statewide service.

In addition, Mike Silvas, a well respected broker-owner from the Napa area, was elected as the CALMLS Chairman of the Board.  Silvas will be leading the implementation efforts of the CALMS going forward, which some have called one of the most important and ambitious efforts by C.A.R. to benefit Association members.

The selection process for a vendor or multiple vendors will take place in June of this year.   Sixty one MLSs and AORs have sent in letters of intent to be part of the new statewide MLS.  There are 70 MLSs in California.   While there have previously been several laudable efforts to consolidate and share data in the state, the CALMLS is the only proposed MLS that anticipates complete statewide coverage either by local Associations or MLSs using it directly as their primary system, or by them joining under the hybrid model which allows MLSs to access the benefits of a statewide system, while maintaining a separate system.

Please feel free to offer your comments about the CALMLS by gong directly to mlsinput@car.org.   For the most current information on the status of the CALMLS, please visit http://mlsinput.car.org.