Merri Jo Cowen, Chief Vision Officer at Stellar MLS and Executive Vice President at Universal Consulting Opportunities (UCO), will deliver a keynote titled “From Paris to Istanbul” at the International MLS Forum in Istanbul on November 16–17, 2026. Her message carries significant implications for real estate markets worldwide: organized listing systems can be developed without simply copying the U.S. and Canadian MLS model, and greater cross-border connectivity is now a practical option for MLS organizations of any size.
Cowen’s perspective is shaped by more than 40 years in the MLS industry and participation in every edition of the forum since its inaugural gathering in Paris. UCO, a subsidiary of Stellar MLS, returns as Title Partner for the third consecutive year. Since the Paris forum, conversations have turned into concrete agreements. At last year’s forum in Toronto, Stellar MLS was one of five organizations from the U.S., Canada, France and the United Arab Emirates to sign the cross-border data share that launched the Global Data Exchange (GDX). Ahead of Istanbul, FIABCI, the International Real Estate Federation, has joined GDX.
The importance of this announcement lies in its challenge to international leaders: markets can build organized real estate marketplaces tailored to local laws, business practices and consumer needs. For consumers, the absence of an organized listing system often means fragmented property information, inconsistent prices and uncertainty about whom to trust. “A buyer could see the same property at five different prices, listed by five different agents,” Cowen says. “How do they know who the best agent is to work with?” An MLS can provide a framework for shared listing information and professional cooperation, but Cowen cautions against treating the North American approach as a universal template. “The model we have here in the United States and Canada is not necessarily the perfect model for another global entity, but it’s possible,” she says. Her advice to markets considering an MLS is to start somewhere: “If you sit down and figure out what your market needs, and then you have some help pulling that together, you can start that framework of an MLS that can evolve to where you want it to go.”
Beyond developing local marketplaces, Cowen sees connectivity through GDX as another major opportunity. As Board President of GDX through 2026, she views cross-border listing exchange as a way for MLS organizations to broaden resources for their members while retaining control over their participation. “I think it’s going to open a lot of doors for agents and brokers all across the globe to connect with potential buyers and sellers,” she says. For MLSs focused on their local market, she describes it as an achievable first step that does not require a huge investment but can expand opportunities for their agents.
Cowen also emphasizes the value of in-person gatherings to turn initial conversations into ideas worth pursuing. “It’s not just business building through networking. It’s the excitement that comes from an idea, or learning something new, or hearing a success story,” she says. Her invitation to markets considering an MLS and to established organizations exploring international connections is straightforward: “Be curious.” Tickets are available now for the fourth edition of the forum, organized by RESO, ADRES and RealtyFeed at Raffles Istanbul.
