As long as they don't get too bureaucratic and remain the agents friend...sure

We went from a seven county area to fourteen and mostly because the smaller ones were ubable to offer the services.

The only problem could be the association getting to big for their britches!

Peter Mohylsky - it's about 2000 - to best of my knowledge, And it's a good board - happy with them...

Ours is 750 strong and very active. I do think some smaller associations around us that are less organized and apathetic could benefit by joining us.

I have a small board with less than 90 members. NAR is going to keep tightening core standards until they get a lot of the small boards to merge. 

I think two boards merging together isn't necessarily a bad thing. There is strength in numbers. 

we have 1189 as of yesterday.  Merger talks happen and we voted against it.

I don't know the number but we merged a few years ago

About 2000-3000 from what I recently heard.  Out here, we used to have three boards covering my main area and you had to join all of them to do business (no data sharing agreements back then).  They eventually all merged into one big group which made life easier for everyone!

If your agents do business in both areas and have to be members of both, it is useful.  If not, then I'd say it isn't worth it unless you can get costs down by joining forces.

One example: The neighboring association to me SRAR is gigantic.  They cover I believe the entirety of Los Angeles County (which is huge).  Their dues are in the 200-300/yr range, versus mine which are three times that.  They also have FREE printing for all their agents along with free marketing tools.  We have nothing for free.  Economies of scale...

For someone who works with small properties throughout the state it would be nice if there were only one assn and mls to deal with.

We have already joined with 3 over the years. Do not know how many agents but it is the 1/3 northern part of IL.

I think the size of our local association is 1800.  It has gone through many changes in its 100+ year history.  We merged.  We broke away from a large mls system.   There have been discussions and votes and challenges and debates to merge again.   

4500 +6000 almost next to each other. No, they are rivals.  I join the one who is cheaper than the other.

Political! 

In numbers .... I honestly don't know.  We have two equally large associations in my area. We have the option of joining one or the other, or both.  As for merging, it would depend on what the actual benefit to the members.

Merging associations allows to increase in numbers, share the costs and offer more to its members.

In Sarasota, the Manatee and the Sarasota Boards merged a few years ago. I think it was a smart move and brought together two separate groups of agents that were constantly overlapping and competing for the same market.

Pooh, Peter - I was just going to ask a similar question as well - I'll wait until your replies are gathered LOL

We have The Greater San Diego Association of Realtors which then has different county branch offices. La Jolla is really the only true rogue Board that has nothing to do with (G)SDAR. They have REBA (La Jolla Real Estate Broker's Association), and to me that would be huge if they were to merge and finally behave as if they belong to San Diego. It's ridiculous to have to be on their "country club style" board of Realtors.

Over 42,000 members.  It is the one of the top three in size in North America.  The neighbouring boards are substantially smaller, perhaps a couple hundred or a thousand members.

We have had mergers because of change in policy at NAR because too many associations are not doing anything for their membership or the community. For instance, Iowa which is a small state for membership numbers went down from 48 assoications to about 17 in the first year of the policy change.

Just relocated back to Chicago. The association here is very large. Not sure of the count but it might be in the top 5 in membership!

Carolina MLS has about 10,000 members now. Numerous smaller association throughout NC and bordering counties of SC have merged with us over the years. Since I was always a member of the CMLS and not a smaller association I can't speak to the advantages for smaller groups to affiliate with a larger association, but there must be if so many have done it.

I do not know.

I dont' think we have any small enough for a merger!!

I do not know the number of members. Regional mergers have already taken place.