Compass Merger Will Cast An Invisibility Cloak Over Many Listings.
In September 2025, the colossus Compass announced it was becoming a leviathan with a $1.6 billion all-stock acquisition of Coldwell Banker, Century 21, Sotheby’s International Realty, and Corcoran. This consumption by Compass creates what’s billed as the world’s largest residential brokerage with ~340,000 agents across 120 countries. Resistance is futile, you must comply!
Our opinion: such consolidation raises concerns about market transparency and competition, especially if more listings are locked inside a single castle. Homes listed by Compass may skip popular public platforms buyers often use like Zillow, Redfin, Realtor.com, or even the MLS, limiting exposure for sellers and hiding opportunities from buyers who never learn a listing exists. After 20+ years in the trenches, we can confirm that many winning offers often arrive to us from small, plucky brokerages. Such offers might never make it to the seller’s attention if the listing never makes it past the Compass drawbridge to be viewed by the world outside the castle walls.
Meanwhile, in June 2025, Compass filed a federal antitrust lawsuit against Zillow over the so-called “Zillow Ban,” which requires any home publicly marketed online to appear on Zillow within 24 hours or be permanently excluded. Compass says this undermines its 3-Phased Marketing Strategy (starting with private, internal listings). Zillow says it’s about transparency and fairness and that it’s not obligated to host listings that dodge broad access. A hearing is scheduled for November 18, 2025. Bring popcorn and perhaps a tiny flashlight.
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