Shaping the Future of Global Real Estate: The 2nd Annual International MLS Forum in Milan

By Joe Schneider | September 30, 2024

With unbridled excitement, we pack our bags to join some of the brightest minds in global real estate next week for the 2nd Annual International MLS Forum held in Milan, Italy.

The forum appears to be an unrivaled event in the real estate space this year, bringing together key stakeholders from over 50 countries, all focused on one key issue: bringing the global real estate market onto a single standard data format–the RESO standard.

With double the representation in both attendees and countries, this year’s edition promises to be a groundbreaking moment to solidify the pillars for a truly interconnected global real estate market powered by the RESO standard.

The event will be a catalyst for driving broker-to-broker collaboration, accelerating market velocity, and sparking innovation through PropTech. Most importantly, it will bring about a key advancement: improved market transparency to elevate the consumer experience. As these forces come together, they will pave the way for a new era of global real estate connectivity.

While all of the sessions are of particular importance to tell the story of what a truly interconnected global real estate market looks like, there are a few that I am particularly excited about:

Technology and Innovation Adoption in the Real Estate Industry: Moderated by Jeremy Crawford (CEO of FMLS, US), and featuring panelists Giulio Azzolini (AgentRE MLS, Italy), Andrew Coca (CEO, Modern.tech, US), Mahmoud Alburai (Head of Innovation, Dubai Land, UAE), John DiMichele (CEO, Toronto Real Estate Board, Canada), this panel will dive deep into the how real estate is embracing cutting-edge technologies and harnessing that power to improve all facets of the real estate industry for all stakeholders, today and deep into the future.

Governments, Real Estate Licensing and MLSs: Moderated by yours truly (Joe Schneider, IMLS Host and EVP of Consulting, Modern.tech) and featuring panelists Jessica Hickok (CEO, ARELLO, US), Albana Shala Banjaku (Director of Immovable Property Appraisal Department, Chair of Supervisory Council for Licensing Real Estate Appraisers), Ali Abdulla Al Ali (Director, Dubai Land Department, Dubai), Moath Maqbol (General Manager, Advanced Real Estate Services, Abu Dhabi), this panel will highlight the importance of uniform standards, licensing laws, and real estate education’s impact on a functioning and dynamic real estate market.

Pioneers of MLS: The Innovative Journeys of MLS Founders: Moderated by Mathew Kallumadil (Vice President, Technology and Innovation) and featuring panelists Carlos Grass (CEO, Stratus Data Systems & Amplify, USA & Czech), Ahmed Elbatrawy (Founder & CEO, ArabMLS, UAE, Egypt), Sorin Udrea (General Manager, Romanian MLS, Romania, and Vicky Sampah (Founder and CEO, Ghana Real Estate Professionals Associations, Ghana), this panel will highlight the journeys that these real estate visionaries took to create an MLS system in their countries, shifting the real estate paradigm, bringing rules, standards, and increased transparency in their respective markets around the world.

MLS of the future: Value of Listing Data: Moderated by Saul Klein (CEO, San Diego MLS, US) and featuring panelists Victor Lund (CEO, WAV Group, US), Bill Fowler (President, SourceRE, USA), Jeff Bosch (CEO, IRES MLS, USA) and Scott Little (Executive, CoreLogic, USA) this panel will focus on the value of accurate and clean real estate data, not only to the stakeholders operating in a market but to secondary markets that rely on this data to make informed decisions that dictate key financial and policy decisions around the world.

The excitement is palpable as we prepare for Milan. The 2nd Annual International MLS Forum promises to be more than just a gathering—it’s a pivotal moment in global real estate, where the future of interconnected markets will be shaped.

From tech innovations to governance, our conversations next week will lay the foundation for a standardized, transparent, and efficient global system powered by the RESO standard. With industry pioneers and leaders all in one place, we’re not just attending an event; we’re contributing to a movement that will redefine how real estate operates across borders.

Much more than another conference, this is an opportunity to influence the future. We look forward to engaging with thought leaders, exchanging ideas, and driving initiatives that will lead to greater collaboration, faster transactions, and enhanced transparency for consumers worldwide.

As we dive into critical discussions about technology adoption, governance, and the value of accurate data, we are confident that the path forward will usher in a new era of innovation and opportunity in the real estate world.

Stay tuned–this is only the beginning!