
Listing Bits Running a home grown MLS with Annie Ives
Greg sits down with returning guest Annie Ives, CEO of CLAW/The MLS™, to discuss major industry changes following NAR policy shifts, the rise of MLS-only memberships, exclusive-listing strategies, and the rapid growth of CLAW's in-house technology products including Vesta Plus, Checkmate, Showing software, and MarketSnap. Annie also shares insights on managing a high-end market, delivering strong customer service, and the future role of MLSs in a shifting industry.
Key Takeaways
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NAR's policy changes are already increasing MLS-only membership interest, especially in California's Thompson state environment.
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Annie expects MLS-only membership to rise from ~15% to potentially 25–30% as agents look to cut costs.
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Associations may face pressure to restate their value proposition as non-dues revenue becomes increasingly important.
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CLAW is launching a new listing status: MLS Exclusive — allowing listings to remain off-market-facing while still visible to MLS members.
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MLS Exclusive listings accrue no DOM and no public price-change history while in that status.
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CLAW continues to grow its in-house technology stack, including:
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Vesta Plus MLS platform
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Checkmate compliance software (now used by ~200k agents)
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Showing software
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MarketSnap analytics
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Annie credits their success to customization, rapid iteration, and client-driven feature development.
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She predicts MLSs will increasingly become technology companies, especially as revenue from dues becomes less stable.
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Future industry direction remains uncertain, but Annie emphasizes persistence, adaptability, and building strong teams as core to longevity.
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