KAREA JOINS ITSO

ON For Immediate Release: On Wednesday, November 4 the membership of the Kingston and Area Real Estate Association (KAREA) voted overwhelmingly in favour to join the Ontario Regional Technology & Information Systems Inc. (ORTIS).

“We are extremely excited about moving to this shared regional MLS® System,” said Dave Pinnell Jr., President of KAREA. “While having seamless access to MLS® data in the areas surrounding our association and access to great technology tools were central to our decision, we are equally excited to join a group focused on breaking down legacies and who always place the REALTOR® and consumer top of mind.”

Incorporated over 50 years ago as a not-for-profit organization, KAREA represents over 580 REALTORS®. Once KAREA is integrated into the ORTIS MLS® System, their REALTORS® will be able to access the MLS® data from all 20 of ORTIS’s member associations, plus the MLS® data belonging to the REALTORS® Association of Hamilton Burlington through a datashare agreement. ORTIS REALTORS® also have reciprocal access to the Sudbury Real Estate Board and the Ottawa Real Estate Board MLS® Systems.

ORTIS operates a shared regional MLS® System for its member associations and the more than 14,000 REALTORS® that belong to those associations. As a result of collaboration with all its member associations, and inclusive governance structure, ORTIS has created a unique MLS® System that uses common rules and common data fields to best support REALTORS® and consumers.

“The value that ORTIS offers is that the sum is greater than its parts. Our REALTORS® can list and access property in any jurisdiction of any of our member associations” says Brad Johnstone, Chair of ORTIS. “We welcome all member associations as equal partners, with an equal voice, which creates tremendous diversity of thought and experience that is brought to our decision making process.” In addition to robust technology tools, ORTIS also has created a regional professional standards and arbitration framework to ensure MLS® Rules are consistently enforced, that the REALTOR® Code is enforced with ORTIS REALTORS®, and commission disputes are resolved amicably and efficiently.

“We welcome KAREA and their REALTORS® into our fold” says Johnstone. “Our Board of Directors believes that every REALTOR® in the province should have access to all of the MLS® listings in the province – anything less is an unnecessary burden on REALTORS® and consumers. Adding KAREA to our network brings us one step closer to this goal”. “We are looking forward to collaborating with ORTIS and being a part of this growing community” says Pinnell Jr.

ORTIS is a not-for-profit corporation created in 2015 that is wholly owned and controlled by its member real estate associations. ORTIS has grown from 7 member associations to over 20 and strives to be the preferred MLS® and technology provider for real estate associations and REALTORS®, which enables its users to provide superior solutions to their clients.