What difference does it make as long as all the data is there?

Makes no difference to me - I actually would prefer a country wide MLS

I agree with Nina Hollander 

Depends on your location.  Makes sense in large metropolitan areas such as DC, Chicago, California.  Erie PA is one hundred miles from Cleveland, Pittsburgh or Buffalo.  We are right in middle with mainly rural properties between the cities.

The MLS could be at any level, I would argue for a national one and FAR fewer associations, there are huge redundancies there, resulting in higher fees to agents and brokers.

Our local MLS has done a better job responding to agents preferences for formats and other software improvements.

I think Regional is better since people often are willing to drive an hour or more to work to find the right house. Regional allows a bigger pool of homes and communities.

Nationwide.  

      As long as their are local MLS fiefdoms,  Zillow/Trulia/Realtorcom  will continue to dominate Buyer Search.

I don't se any advantage, because the information will be the same.

I'm with Nina Hollander on this one.

I think regional is better for sellers, but maybe not so much for buyers. This is the new trend. Soon there will be statewide MLSs and than a national MLS. 

Reginal. Our MLS is State wide now. People wanted me to fly to LA buy homes. 

Regional

Eventually they will join. My local MLS have been adding access to many other county and state MLS, I believe you even have some interstate choices. If Z offers details on properties in any location, why we can not have the same access from our MLSs?

Ginger - I would say the MLS that has the most accurate and up to date information would be most important. Doesn't really matter where it comes from.

Redfin, Zillow, Realtor.com... that's what they're using.  MLS is not seen by the end user.  Regardless of local or regional, the data needs to be sent to the sites where people will see it.

Still Local

Exposure is exposure. The more the better.

Local works well with local, but if regional includes local, then the more people who see my new listings the better. 

In our area, we have a very effective regional MLS.

regional

For our area - regional

We have only one MLS operated by the local board.  It is one of the largest (top two or three) in our great continent.

Whichever the agents are using in your area, but a broader reach always seems like a better bet.

It depends on whether they are looking for something close to home or futher away.

Ginger,

In my opinion, local makes more sense, for buyers.  Unless you specifically know that your feeder market is_________, then that could be included.  Here in our area, one the biggest feeder markets is Los Angeles..

It also Chicago and Texas, and then it would be onerous.  .A