Miami REALTORS® and Broward, Palm Beaches & St. Lucie Realtors® (RWorld) are officially merging to create the largest local Realtor association in the world, representing over 93,000 agents.
According to both parties, this merger is about making things simpler and more connected for agents working in one of the busiest, most globally relevant real estate markets in the U.S. Unified data, better tools, and less friction in the day-to-day.
In a statement, RWorld President Jonathan Dolphus said the merger “reflects the continued growth and evolution of the South Florida real estate market.”
Alfredo Pujol, chairman of the board of Miami Association of Realtors, summed it up this way:
“Two of the strongest MLS and Realtor organizations in the U.S. are now one, building on South Florida’s momentum as a global real estate powerhouse and shaping the industry’s next frontier.
“This is a win for South Florida, our 93,000 collective members, and their clients. Our members will have broader, more fluid access to the data, tools, and services they need, without the limitations or complexity of multiple memberships.
“Ultimately, this will allow South Florida Realtors to deliver an even higher level of service.”
Here’s what that actually looks like in practice.
What the merger actually creates
The new organization, expected to operate as Miami and South Florida Realtors pending NAR approval, is set to launch on May 11, 2026.
It brings together a 56,000-member Miami REALTORS® and a 37,000-member RWorld, creating something that’s more than twice the size of the next-largest local association in the U.S.
At a high level, here’s what’s being combined:
- 93,000+ total members across South Florida
- Two major Realtor associations
- Two MLS systems: MIAMI MLS and Beaches MLS
- Multiple overlapping tools, services, and data networks
On the MLS side, this won’t be an overnight switch. Both systems will continue operating separately for now, with a full integration planned in the near future. Once that happens, the combined MLS is expected to become:
- The third-largest MLS in the country by subscriber count
- The largest MLS owned by a single Realtor association
Leadership is also being blended rather than replaced:
- Alfredo Pujol (Miami) becomes the first Chairman
- Jonathan Dolphus (RWorld) is 2026 Chair-Elect and 2027 Chairman
- Katherine Arteta is next in line as 2027 Chair-Elect
- Teresa King Kinney and Dionna Hall will serve as co-CEOs through 2026
- Hall takes over as sole CEO after Kinney retires
Structurally, both organizations are keeping their divisions and leadership teams in place.
What it means for agents, data, and day-to-day business
For agents, this comes down to access and efficiency.
Instead of working across fragmented systems and memberships, the combined organization is aiming to pull everything into a more connected experience.
Here’s what agents are getting access to:
- A complete MLS dataset across Southeast Florida
- Data from 11 MLSs across the U.S. and Canada
- A planned connection to the Global Data Exchange (GDX) for cross-border listings
- Continued access to both Flexmls and Matrix
On the tools and services side, the scale is significant:
- 300+ marketing tools, products, and services
- 2,800+ education opportunities each year
- 100,000+ annual class attendees
- Expanded commercial tools, including a commercial MLS and listing distribution
RWorld President Jonathan Dolphus explained it this way:
“By bringing our organizations together, we are creating a more connected and efficient Association and MLS, one that delivers complete MLS data, expanded access to tools and services, and a simpler way for our members to do business.
“Together, we’re focused on helping our members become more profitable and successful in the global marketplace.”
There’s also a practical upside for brokers and teams:
- Stronger support infrastructure
- More consistent systems across markets
- Less friction when working across county lines
At the same time, local market identity isn’t going anywhere. Relationships, boards, and support teams stay in place, just operating inside a larger, more connected structure.
Zoom out, and this lines up with what’s been happening across the industry.
Fewer MLSs, bigger networks, and a steady move toward consolidating data and control under fewer umbrellas.
This deal centers on scale and control over data, giving South Florida a more unified system built to support how agents work.
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