While CEOs bicker, real estate agents are focused on how they can earn more commissions this year than they did last year.
Two of the biggest names in real estate, Compass and Keller Williams, dominated the news cycle this week. Robert Refkin announced record earnings, but his company was also dealing with layoffs across both of its big brands. Meanwhile, Gary Keller held a KW family reunion with a little aside from the Compass mega-merger.
Here’s everything you missed:
compass
Redfin to deliver 1 million leads to Compass by 2029
During Rocket’s fourth quarter 2025 financial results announcement, the partnership with Compass International Holdings was a hot topic, with leaders revealing details about how the two companies would benefit.
Compass announces “strongest fourth-quarter financial results in company history,” but feels the weight of merger costs
Despite the increase in revenue, agency count, and total transaction value, Compass also faced a significant net loss of $42.6 million in the fourth quarter of 2025.
Compass partners with Rocket-Redfin to display upcoming listings
According to details of the new partnership, Compass Coming Soon listings will receive priority display on Redfin.com and buyer inquiries will be directed to Compass listing agents.
SCOOP: Merger completes, Anywhere and Compass lay off
Mr. Inman has learned exclusively that the layoffs began last week and continued this week, six weeks after the two companies merged to form a giant brokerage firm.
keller williams
Gary Keller on Compass Anywhere: ‘I wouldn’t have done it’
Gary Keller delivered the annual housing market keynote Monday, musing on sales trends and market competitiveness, with some quips about Compass and Coster.
Keller Williams opens Command platform to third-party developers
After years of adding integrations to its Command platform, Keller Williams has opened its doors to third-party developers through a dedicated hub to speed up their launch on KW Marketplace.
Let’s be honest, while CEOs are trading blows (see Gary Keller’s comments on Compass above), you’re putting your feet in the ground and trying to make a living. That’s why we’re looking to the future of our industry and the markets our customers are navigating today.
We bring you the best advice from agents and brokers who know the game. Then you can answer the eternal question: “How can I make my business more profitable this year than last?”
Breaking through the rhetoric: What the economy really tells us about real estate in 2026
Based on the data, real estate is not in a boom cycle, writes Coach Darryl Davis. We are not in a crash cycle. It is in a reconditioning cycle.
The real money in real estate is not just fees.
Coldwell Banker Warburg’s Kevlin Guzman details ancillary revenue streams for agents, including referral networks, investments, speaking, and content.
How the KISS principle works in the noisy real estate industry
“Keep it simple” is an essential principle for real estate success. Learn how broker owner Joey Connor is increasing recruitment and retention.
How to increase prices with luxury performances
Vesta Home’s Julian Buckner shares strategies for effectively creating a luxury home to increase the price and fees of the average property.
The Download is a column where Inman’s Christy Murdock takes a deep dive into last week’s most read articles to give you what you need to face Monday head-on.
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