Compass, the top residential real estate brokerage in the U.S., has unveiled plans to absorb its closest rival, Anywhere Real Estate.
The two companies announced the deal on Monday, saying it would provide a better experience to homebuyers and sellers and a means for agents to grow their business. Compass was the top U.S. brokerage by volume in 2024 at $231 billion, according to real estate website RealTrends. Anywhere was second at $184 billion. Both are based in the New York City region.
The deal has benefits for each side. Compass gets access to Anywhere’s network of 300,000 agents and several high-profile subsidiaries, including Century 21, Coldwell Banker, Sotheby’s International Realty and Corcoran. Meanwhile, Anywhere’s agents can tap into the other firm’s technology platform. Compass currently has about 40,000 agents.
“By bringing together two of the best companies in our industry, while preserving the unique independence of Anywhere’s leading brands, we now have the resources to build a place where real estate professionals can thrive for decades to come,” Compass CEO Robert Reffkin said in a joint statement.
Reffkin is expected to lead the company when the merger is completed in the second half of 2026. The two companies will have a combined value of about $10 billion.
The deal will give Compass a presence in all 50 states and 120 countries. The company will also absorb Anywhere’s title and escrow, mortgage and relocation services, adding more than $1 billion in annual revenue. In general, the two companies said the merger makes sense from a financial standpoint.
“We have a unique opportunity … to deliver even more value across every phase of the home buying and home selling experience,” Anywhere President Ryan Schneider said in the statement.
Compass also experienced significant growth in 2024, acquiring luxury brand Christie’s International Real Estate and Chicago-based @properties, which at the time was the eighth-largest U.S. brokerage.
Compass made news earlier this year when it sued online platform Zillow, accusing it of violating antitrust laws by banning listings marketed for more than a day before they go public.