By Kyle Niemann, 2023 Heartland MLS President
“How did it get so late so soon. It’s night before it’s afternoon. December before it’s June. My goodness, how the time has flewn. How did it get so late so soon?”
– Dr. Seuss
How did time manage to slip away so quickly? It feels like just a short while ago we were in June, and now I find myself passing the gavel to my esteemed colleague, Amy Voltz, as the 2024 Heartland MLS President. December arrived swiftly, reminiscent of the words of Dr. Seuss, yet from my perspective, it isn’t so late so soon.
Serving as your president has been a remarkable journey, filled with challenges, triumphs, and a steadfast commitment to advancing our real estate industry. The hurdles of 2023 for the real estate sector have been formidable—escalating interest rates and lingering legal proceedings persisting beyond the change of a calendar year. These challenges can either prompt a retreat or inspire us, as an industry, to confront them head-on, fortifying our role as REALTORS® in realizing the American dream of homeownership. It’s not too late.
Many have inquired about what I intended to achieve in “my year.” However, I viewed it not as my year alone but as our collective year. My overarching vision aimed to foster innovation, strengthen relationships, and elevate the standards of excellence within our MLS. I am pleased to report that we have not only met but surpassed these goals.
Heartland MLS is continually exploring ways to enhance and expand the services we provide. This year, we have identified several additions that will benefit both you and your clients. In the coming months, we will be adding a down payment assistance link for homebuyers to determine property eligibility in programs. Additionally, we are set to launch a speech-enabled Alexa app tailored for the blind or visually impaired, allowing for voice-activated property searches.
Our MLS system will soon see an upgrade with the OneHome consumer and agent portal. This enhancement, featuring predictive analytics, text updates, a new DriveTime feature, and integrated Image AI, will enable the recognition of room features from uploaded photos and AI-generated descriptions. In the next few weeks, we will unveil a solution to one of the most requested features of this year—a showing report segmented by price points.
My tenure as president of Heartland MLS has been a profoundly rewarding experience. I take great pride in our collective achievements and am confident that the foundation we have laid will serve as a launching pad for even greater accomplishments in the years to come. Thank you for affording me the opportunity to represent you across Kansas City, the region, and the world, and for granting me the privilege of leading this exceptional organization.
While I have thoroughly enjoyed serving as your Heartland MLS president, I am confident that I leave the gavel in capable hands with our incoming 2024 President, Amy Voltz.
Here’s to a future filled with continued growth, innovation, and success for Heartland MLS and for all of you.
Amy Schuler • December 9, 2023 at 1:51 pm
Well said, and WELL DONE, Kyle!