Compass International Holdings Brands and Century 21 executives say the future of consolidation depends on a unified technology platform, stronger agency support and measurable consumer value.
As consolidation reshapes the real estate industry, executives at Compass International Holdings and Century 21 say their next steps will not be determined solely by size, but by how effectively the companies can integrate technology, empower agents and deliver measurable value to consumers.
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Executives told a packed crowd Wednesday at Inman on Tour in Nashville that the recent wave of big brokerage deals and acquisitions is part of a shift to a platform-driven brokerage model.
Consolidation is nothing new for Mike Miedler, Century 21’s president and CEO. Compass acquired Anywhere Real Estate, the parent company of Century 21, Coldwell Banker, Sotheby’s International Realty and ERA, in a $1.6 billion all-stock transaction announced in September 2025 and completed in January 2026. The combined company now operates as Compass International Holdings, with brands like Century 21 continuing to operate under their existing identities within the broader company. organization.
What matters now, Miedler said, is whether consolidation actually improves outcomes. “There are about 80,000 brokerage firms out there,” Miedler said. “Integration has always been part of this business, but it has to mean better outcomes for consumers and agents.”
This standard is becoming increasingly important as trading activity accelerates. Companies are consolidating not just to survive, but to address succession issues, expand geographically, and gain competitive advantages of scale.
Liz Gehringer, president and CEO of Compass International Holdings Brands, said the company is actively working to build a franchise brokerage network under the newly created umbrella. It means embedding independent companies into a broader ecosystem of brands, services and technology.
“There’s a tremendous amount of trading activity going on,” Gehringer said. “Not because people are suffering, but because there is real opportunity in coming together.”
One platform instead of many
While consolidation grabbed the headlines, executives repeatedly pointed to a quieter but perhaps more significant change: the move to unified technology platforms.
Miedler said many agents still juggle eight to 12 different tools to run their business. This is a level of fragmentation that limits productivity.
“What’s exciting is the integration,” Miedler said. “Having one system from start to finish allows agents to perform everything else at a higher level.”
Compass International Holdings is betting on that. The company is building its own end-to-end platform, which will soon be rolled out across its expanding franchise network, Gehringer said. Compass International Holdings says it has invested about $1.5 billion in its technology platform over the past decade.
“Our plan is to provide a unified technology platform to all brokers,” Gehringer said. “When you can do more work in one place, that’s where the real value comes from.”
Liz Gehringer speaks at Inman on Tour Nashville 2026 | Image courtesy of AJ Canaria Creative Services
Beyond efficiency, the platform standardizes marketing strategies, streamlines workflows, and gives brokers more control over how their large-scale agents operate.
Gehringer also credited Compass International Holdings CEO Robert Refkin with driving rapid change, describing his leadership style focused on rapid decision-making and execution.
Its vision is focused on aligning technology, strategy, and culture with an emphasis on agents. Gehringer said Refkin’s approach has been deeply influenced by feedback from agents and franchise owners, many of whom he sees as entrepreneurs running their own businesses.
“He believes we should all work as hard as brokers,” she said. “And he’s very focused on being an agent’s advocate.”
agent stays at center
Despite rapid advances in artificial intelligence tools, both Gehringer and Miedler emphasized that real estate remains fundamentally relationship-driven. Miedler cited past technology disruptions, including the rise and fall of iBuying, as evidence that technology alone cannot replace agents.
“Real estate doesn’t exist without an agent,” Miedler says. “This is still a skill-based, person-to-person business.”
Even recent fee-related legal challenges haven’t changed the momentum, he added, noting that consumers continue to demonstrate a willingness to work with agents.
While macroeconomic uncertainty continues to weigh on the market, both executives suggested this period could create opportunities for forward-looking companies.
For brokerages, that means focusing on what they can control: execution, culture, and long-term strategy. “Put the consumer first,” Gehringer said. “That’s where you’ll get the best answers.”
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