SPAAR's membership currently stands at 5,065, and NMRA's at 1,508. It's hoped a merger of the two associations would provide increased member benefits without an increase in membership dues, he said.

"By merging, we will eliminate duplication and be able to, at the very least, stabilize membership dues," Maurer said. "We may even be able to look at some modest reduction in dues."

The associations are hoping that a merger would allow them to offer more educational and professional development programs, including a peer-to-peer review program. A merger would also give the combined associations a "more powerful and influential voice" in the government affairs and public relations arena, he said.

Maurer said it's too soon to say whether the merger talks, if successful, would lead to layoffs. NMRA "runs a very efficient company," he said. But "inevitably, with any merger, there are changes that do occur that's how you reach the efficiencies.

When SPAAR merged with the smaller Southern Twin Cities Association of Realtors last year, "there were very few personnel changes, (but) a lot of shifting of responsibilities."

Both executive officers were retained in that merger, with the expectation that one would retire at the end of this year, Maurer said.

The idea of a merger with NMRA has been "primarily board driven," Maurer said, having been identified as a goal in a strategic plan drawn up by the board two years ago.

More mergers on the way?

Maurer said he's talked to association executives around the country who are engaged in similar discussions.

"It becomes a necessity in order to meet the needs of the associations without increasing dues," he said. "You create synergies, reduce duplication, and make a more powerful association. I think you'll see more of this, I really do."

If SPAAR and NMRA pull off a merger, the region's MLS, NorthstarMLS, would serve them and one other association: the Minneapolis Association of Realtors.

Asked if there were opportunities for further consolidation in the Twin Cities, Maurer said the Minneapolis association serves a distinct geographic area.

"Having two, friendly associations competing makes everything better, but at some point, regionalization is going to occur," Maurer said. Although there are no discussions between the St. Paul Area and Minneapolis Realtor associations at the moment, he said, "There's pretty significant outreach from the membership to explore that."

In Florida, the merger of RAMB and RAMDC means the East Florida Regional MLS now serves four associations, instead of five.

"If it can happen between our two associations, it can happen between any, because we were (so far apart)," Kinney said.

Although the Miami association is "doing great the way we are, we're wide open to bringing people together in the marketplace. This has been a great example of how smoothly it can happen. It continues to amaze us, how well everything has fit, and how quickly it came together."

Asked if she had any advice for other associations hoping to pull of a merger, Kinney said it's important not to get mired down in details that can be taken care of after the merger.

"Focus only on what's important," Kinney advised. "Many times, associations think they have to make all the decisions that (eventually do have to) be made before they merge. You become so tied up in the details, you lose site of the big picture."

If big is better, is there also such a thing as too big?

"It probably doesn't make sense to have Miami and Orlando in the same association, because of the distance," Kinney said. "But think about MRIS, the largest MLS in the nation. If (it) can serve 55,000 people, providing probably the most important service we offer to members, why couldn't an association do that with the right focus, offices and team?"

The merger makes the Miami association the biggest regional association in the nation -- and larger than all but 12 state associations. Only California, Florida, Texas, New York, New Jersey, Illinois, Arizona, North Carolina, Virginia, Pennsylvania, Ohio and Georgia are bigger, according to National Association of Realtors statistics.