Empire Access MLS and Greater Hudson Valley MLS Merge

White Plains, NY, May 31, 2012 --(PR.com)-- The Empire Access MLS, serving the Bronx, Westchester, Putnam and Dutchess counties has now merged with the Greater Hudson Valley MLS, serving Rockland, Orange, Sullivan and Ulster counties, to create the new Hudson Gateway Multiple Listing Service (HGMLS).

This merger reflects last year’s historic merger of the Westchester Putnam Association of REALTORS® (WPAR), the Rockland County Board of REALTORS® (RCBR) and the Orange County Association of REALTORS® (OCAR) into the new Hudson Gateway Association of REALTORS.®

“The new HGMLS will provide a broader view of the organization’s role for real estate agents and the general public in the area,” said HGMLS President Gary Leogrande. “Our agents will now be able to access listings in eight counties through the lower Hudson Valley, providing even more choices for homebuyers.”

HGMLS now includes more than 1,700 real estate firms stretching from the Bronx to the most rural northern areas of Dutchess and Ulster counties. “Access to real estate information is what multiple listing services are all about for real estate agents and consumers. With this new name, we are poised for growth as our region expands,” added Leogrande.

Currently, the HGMLS offer some 24,000 properties in its database and is owned by the Hudson Gateway Association of REALTORS®. It is among the top 50 largest MLSs in the country.

The Hudson Gateway Association of REALTORS® (HGAR) is a not-for-profit trade association covering over 9,000 real estate professionals doing business in Westchester, Putnam, Rockland, and Orange counties. HGAR is comprised of the former Westchester Putnam Association of REALTORS® (WPAR), Rockland County Board of REALTORS® (RCBR) and Orange County Association of REALTORS® (OCAR).