Sam DeBord, CEO of RESO, the Real Estate Standards Organization, will deliver a keynote at the 4th International MLS Forum, November 16-17, 2026, at Raffles Istanbul in Istanbul, Türkiye. His topic is the trillion-dollar question. Over $1 trillion in real estate is purchased every year by people who don’t live in the country where they’re buying. DeBord will ask MLSs, brokers, and technology providers what role they plan to play in that market.
“There’s more than a trillion dollars invested every year by people buying real estate in a country that they don’t live in,” DeBord says. “It’s a massive market.”
The listing information behind those purchases is scattered. U.S. buyers can see nearly every home for sale on a single portal. In many other countries, buyers have to ask one broker after another what’s available.
“The inventory exists, but access to it is very fragmented from an information perspective,” DeBord says. “Creating a more factual, comprehensive picture of what international investment looks like can help the professionals represent buyers better.”
That is the decision at the center of DeBord’s keynote. “Knowing that this trillion-dollar marketplace exists, what’s your role in it?” he says. “You have a role if you have valuable data about the marketplace, whether as a data provider to the network or as a partner empowering brokers and consumers with a more transparent and trustworthy experience in this marketplace.”
“RESO supports these data partners’ ability to use standards and create an efficient, interoperable information marketplace,” he adds. “The outcome we’re all working toward is to see buyers, sellers and investors have access to more accurate, transparent, efficient transactions across borders.”
DeBord knows many U.S. organizations see themselves as local. “If organizations feel that their only focus needs to be the local marketplace, that’s fine,” he says. “Probably not everyone in Atlanta is interested in buying a second home in Italy, but some people in Atlanta are.” First MLS, which serves the Atlanta area, has already connected with an MLS in Italy.
For agents, that kind of access helps three groups of clients:
People moving abroad
Buyers relocating to the U.S. who want to see local listings before they arrive
Local clients looking for a second home or investment property overseas
It also gives agents listings their clients may not find on the sites they already use. “It’s a new reason for a consumer to reach out and talk to you, and something exciting and different to add to your set of tools,” DeBord says.
MLS leaders deciding where their organizations fit in cross-border real estate can hear DeBord’s keynote in person in Istanbul. The forum brings together MLS executives, brokers and technology providers from a few dozen countries. 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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