From Paris to Istanbul: Merri Jo Cowen to Keynote International MLS Forum on Global MLS Development

As Universal Consulting Opportunities (UCO) returns as Title Partner for the third consecutive year, Cowen will challenge international leaders to embrace locally relevant MLS development and greater connectivity.

When the International MLS Forum convenes in Istanbul November 16–17, 2026, Merri Jo Cowen will bring a perspective shaped by more than 40 years in the MLS industry and participation in every edition of the forum since its inaugural gathering in Paris.

Cowen, Chief Vision Officer at Stellar MLS, Executive Vice President at Universal Consulting Opportunities (UCO), and current Board President of the Global Data Exchange (GDX), will deliver a keynote titled “From Paris to Istanbul” at Raffles Istanbul. UCO, a subsidiary of Stellar MLS, returns as Title Partner for the third consecutive year, having supported the forum since its inception.

Her central message is that markets can develop organized real estate marketplaces without simply importing the North American MLS model.

“What I will be talking about is really focusing on opportunity,” Cowen says. “I’ve seen it all. I just feel like there’s nothing we can’t overcome if there’s a willingness.”

“The very first forum we had in Paris was very exciting for us because we wanted to reach out and share our expertise globally and see where we might be able to take that,” Cowen says. “Since then, we have built a great camaraderie across the globe with several organizations. People are starting to realize that UCO is here to help them. Not to compete with them, but to help them.”

Since Paris, those conversations have turned into 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 GDX. Ahead of Istanbul, FIABCI, the International Real Estate Federation, has joined GDX.

Through UCO, Cowen and her team work with international organizations exploring how to establish or strengthen organized real estate marketplaces. That work goes beyond choosing software. It can involve the rules, governance, data practices and relationships needed to make cooperation viable over time.

For consumers, the absence of an organized listing system can mean 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 the right structure depends on local laws, business practices and market needs. Cowen cautions against treating the U.S. and Canadian approach as a universal template.

“We need to reinforce that it’s possible. It’s not one size fits all,” she says. “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.”

“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,” she adds. “But you have to start. That’s the key: start somewhere; it can be done.”

Developing organized marketplaces is one part of the international opportunity. Connecting established MLS organizations is another.

GDX seeks to facilitate cross-border listing exchange among participating MLSs. Cowen, who serves as its Board President through 2026, sees that connectivity as a practical way for MLS organizations to broaden the resources available to 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 whose focus is their local market, she sees it as an achievable first step. “There’s a huge opportunity here for MLSs to build a network for their agents to expand their business, even if that’s all they do,” Cowen says. “There’s something there that can be done that’s relatively simple. It doesn’t involve a huge investment, but it will expand the opportunities for their agents.”

Cowen believes in-person gatherings can turn an initial conversation into an idea 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. “It motivates others to move forward and continue building”

As the fourth International MLS Forum approaches, her invitation to markets considering an MLS and to established organizations exploring international connections is straightforward: “Be curious.” Tickets are available now.

About The International MLS Forum
The International MLS Forum brings together MLS leaders, real estate organizations and technology providers from around the world to build more connected, transparent property marketplaces. The 4th edition, organized by RESO, ADRES and RealtyFeed, takes place November 16-17, 2026, at Raffles Istanbul.

This article is based on information provided by the expert source cited above. It is intended for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, financial, or real estate advice. Readers should conduct their own research and consult qualified professionals before making any real estate or financial decisions.

Disclosure: Individuals or companies mentioned may have a commercial relationship with KeyCrew.

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