After more than three decades at the helm, Miami Realtors CEO Teresa King Kinney announced on Feb. 20 that she will retire at the end of 2026. Her departure closes one of the most influential leadership tenures in modern real estate.
When Kinney began in 1993, the Miami Association of Realtors had roughly 5,000 members and a single office. Today, it represents 60,000 real estate professionals and operates the largest association-owned MLS in the country, making it the biggest local real estate association in the U.S., according to RealEstateAlmanac.com.
Kinney will assume the title of CEO emeritus at year’s end and remain in a consulting role for 12 months while the association conducts a search for her successor. “These have been the most exciting years of my life so far,” Kinney said. “I leave one of the largest, most innovative, and successful organizations in the best shape ever to move forward.”
Her tenure saw historic industry shifts, from the transition to online listings to mergers, the 2008 housing crash, the Covid-19 pandemic, and the 2024 NAR commissions settlement. Under her guidance, Miami became the first major market to post listings online in 1996. In 1997, she oversaw the largest and fastest Realtor association merger at the time, uniting Miami and Miami-Dade County associations.
Kinney built a nimble organization capable of rapid response. When Covid hit, operations moved online within a day, and Realtors secured “essential” status locally. Similarly, following the NAR settlement, the association launched member toolkits immediately and offered bilingual education sessions within a week.
Global expansion became a hallmark of Kinney’s leadership, positioning Miami as a gateway for international investment. The association now maintains partnerships in 77 countries and is approaching its 300th international agreement. Her vision mirrors that of Stellar MLS CEO Merri Jo Cowen, another longtime Florida real estate leader retiring this year.
Kinney’s industry influence has been widely recognized. She has appeared consistently on the Swanepoel Power 200 list of top residential real estate influencers, most recently ranking No. 68, and she ranks No. 9 among organized real estate leaders.
