A new report from the Consumer Policy Center finds that Compass has built a dominant market share in several major U.S. housing markets and is increasingly retaining transactions within its network at rates that outperform many of its competitors.
The study is based on 5,000 recent home sales in Boston, Washington DC, Chicago, San Diego and Austin, and provides new details on how that growth is unfolding. This comes as Compass accelerates its expansion by acquiring Anywhere Real Estate, a high-profile partnership with Rocket Companies and Redfin in January 2026, and recently dropping an antitrust lawsuit against Zillow.
The newly formed Compass International Holdings (CPC refers to it as New Compass, the merged entity following the Anywhere acquisition) now accounts for between 30% and 39.5% of unit sales in all five markets studied. In four of the five cities, Compass’ market share is at least four times that of the next largest brokerage, underscoring the extent of its dominance.
“It’s not just about having a 30% or 40% share, it’s about being several times larger than the next largest company in those markets,” Steven Brobeck, a senior fellow at the Consumer Policy Center and an author of the report, told Inman.
Chicago’s numbers help show how quickly acquisitions can impact the local market. Compass’ acquisition of @properties-Christie’s helped solidify its position as the city’s leading brokerage, and that lead grew even further after the Anywhere deal.
Compass CEO Robert Refkin has previously indicated that the company’s goal is to reach 30 percent market share in 30 markets by 2030, but Compass has not confirmed the full list of these markets. The CPC report suggests that these markets include many of the nation’s largest metros, as well as high-income resort areas such as Aspen, the Hamptons, and Telluride.
Focus on double ending
One of the report’s central findings is Compass’ high proportion of two-way trades (trades in which both the buyer and seller are represented by agents from the same brokerage firm). This is a dynamic researcher that is linked in part to the company’s three-tier marketing strategy, starting with ‘Private Exclusives’, which are only available to buyers working with Compass agents.
The most notable data point is from Washington, D.C., where the Compass double-end rate reached 41 percent. By way of background, Mr. Brobeck told Mr. Inman that when he looked at double-end rates in cities about 10 years ago, the typical range was 3 to 12 percent.
But equally noteworthy is what the DC data does not show. Of the 89 double-sided Compass sales, only one involved a single agent representing both the buyer and seller. Brobeck said the data suggests Compass may be encouraging agents to keep deals in-house while discouraging dual agency.
“They’re not trying to have one agent handle both sides. They’re trying to keep the deals in-house and bring the business in-house,” he said. “They don’t want one person to have it all to themselves.”
A previous Inman report said internal Compass documents uncovered during the recent lawsuit against Zillow showed the company showing off-market sales doubling at a 72% higher rate than on-market sales. Compass has since dropped a lawsuit that sought to limit Zillow’s efforts to restrict private listings. Compass has previously stated that it does not track or encourage double endings as a goal.
Regarding the report’s findings about high rates of “double endings” in markets such as Chicago and Washington, D.C., a Compass spokesperson told Inman that the analysis relies on a partial data set and does not reflect the full scope of the company’s business, adding that agents are expected to act in the best interests of their clients, regardless of who represents the buyer. The company also noted that its non-MLS listed products are widely accessible, and that agents at any brokerage firm can view Compass’ private exclusive products through the company’s offices.
Regarding the referral fee program, a spokesperson said buyer inquiries from Compass.com listings have long been directed to listing agents, the experts most knowledgeable about a property, and the recently launched program gives those agents the option to pass leads on to other Compass agents while earning a 10 percent commission if a deal closes.
Limited resistance — for now
Brobeck emphasized that Anywhere’s integration is still in its early stages and suggested that double-end rates across New Compass’ footprint could increase significantly over the next few years.
The report places the rise of Compass in the context of a weakening regulatory environment. The National Association of Realtors, which has been mired in the fallout of leadership scandals and board-related class-action lawsuits, has largely retreated. Additionally, the Justice Department and FTC have shown no signs of filing antitrust lawsuits against Compass’ recent acquisitions or partnerships, and state attorneys general have so far deferred to industry-led real estate commissions, Brobeck said.
The only significant institutional backlash came from Zillow, which had pushed back against private listings, a dispute that was resolved after Compass dropped its lawsuit against the portal and Zillow launched its own Coming Soon program. As a result, competitors formed their own partnerships, portals adjusted their policies, and little organized resistance took place, resulting in a piecemeal response, the report claims.
What it means for consumers
For consumers navigating markets where the Compass advantage is most pronounced, Brobeck recommended interviewing multiple agents before committing to one, and suggested looking for an experienced associate broker at a reputable local firm.
“I would never tell anyone not to work with a Compass agent. There are many very good Compass agents, but consumers should consider other agents as well. Interview at least a few other agents,” Brobeck said.
Brobeck said the current data may reflect the early stages of expansion for Compass, particularly as it works to integrate recent acquisitions, a change that could lead to more intracompany deals over time.
“It is far from clear how the industry will evolve in the future,” the report concludes. “But it seems certain that Compass’s own priorities and practices will have a big impact.”
Email AJ LaTrace
