The largest group of Realtors in Southeast Michigan has formally cut ties with one of the region’s main providers of home listings.

Southfield-based Greater Metropolitan Association of Realtors, or GMAR, is a board of Realtors representing roughly 8,500 listing and sales agents throughout metro Detroit. On Jan. 1 it executed a long-simmering plan to sever its ownership stake with Realcomp II Ltd.

The Farmington Hills-based multiple listing service provider used by Realtors for home listings and data is now owned by seven other Realtor boards from around Southeast Michigan.

The decision by GMAR to end its ownership position in Realcomp had been planned for nearly a year, as Crain’s previously reported. Both organizations say there will be minimal to no change for clients of Realtors, and each say they remain in a strong financial position.

With the decision to exit its position with Realcomp and the listing software it provides, GMAR has purchased and rolled out FlexMLS. The MLS tool that members say is used around the country offers a good deal of advantages to Realtors and their clients, GMAR says.

“We aim to give our members the tools they need to succeed and best serve their clients,” said Dee Dee Ohara Blizard, broker and owner with Novi-based residential brokerage Global Real Estate Consulting, as well the president of GMAR for 2024. “And quite frankly, FlexMLS is the best-in-class MLS service, they really are.”

The FlexMLS platform, according to Blizard, offers greater flexibility and more customization than the Realcomp offering and serves as a less-costly option. Realcomp and GMAR will continue to share regional housing market data.

For its part, executives at Realcomp note that any Realtors who wish to keep using their service offerings can join any one of seven other Realtor boards operating in the region, including the Detroit and Dearborn Realtor boards, the Grosse Pointe Board of Realtors and the Eastern Thumb Association of Realtors.

“Our operational position is good (and) our business remains strong,” Realcomp wrote in a statement to Crain’s. “We are focused, as always, on serving our subscribers as we celebrate, this year, our 30th year anniversary.”