Six real estate agents based in Chicago’s North Shore are departing from the brokerage Compass, citing a desire for transparency and independence.
The Highland Park-based Gerber Diaz Group, run by agents Louis Diaz and Joe Tyler Gerber, announced its move to Baird & Warner on Wednesday. The team, formed earlier this year, brings four additional agents: Tova Goldberg, Lana Shapiro, Michael Sidor and Isaiah Raynal.
The decision comes on the heels of Compass’ September closing of five offices in Chicago’s luxe North Shore that were home to Compass offices and separate offices of its subsidiary, @properties Christie’s International Real Estate, which it acquired in December 2024. Chicago’s North Shore is home to the metropolitan area’s costliest homes, with two sales this year exceeding $32 million, breaking existing sales records.
Gerber Diaz Group had worked out of the Highland Park office.
“Having a brick-and-mortar office with deep ties to the community lends legitimacy to clients, fosters collaboration among agents and across teams, and provides a genuine touch point for engagement with the surrounding area. It’s what keeps real estate personal,” said Gerber in a statement.
The other four offices closed in September were located in Winnetka, Glenview, Glencoe and Lake Forest. Offices were sold to local franchise ReMax Premier. The moves did not impact whether or not agents could work with Compass.
Joe Tyler Gerber alone generated $25 million in sales last year, according to the statement, and Louis Diaz previously held the role of vice president of strategic growth for Coldwell Banker’s Northwest region. The duo stated they reviewed every major brokerage before selecting Baird & Warner. The team has sold more than $200 million in sales volume across 400 transactions since 2018.
Compass has quickly become the country’s largest brokerage through its feverish acquisition strategy. In addition to the @properties Christie’s purchase, Compass is awaiting the finalization of its merger with Anywhere Real Estate, the country’s second-largest brokerage, and has purchased smaller brokerages nationally.
“At Compass, we saw firsthand what happens when a large company grows and evolves into something different than what you’re used to or comfortable with. When you break down our industry to its very core, it should always be about relationships and growing in a direction that aligns with your values,” Diaz said in a statement.
Compass didn't immediately return a request to comment from Homes.com.
In September, another North Shore-based agent, Peter Cummins, announced his departure from @properties Christie’s International Real Estate. He also chose Baird & Warner, citing his personal distaste for corporate-owned brokerages.
While these two moves have occurred within a few months of one another and shortly after Compass’s bid to acquire Anywhere, they are a small share of agents overall.
“While every experience is unique, the company today reflects years of learning and listening to agent feedback, as evidenced by our 97.5% principal agent retention rate last quarter. We’re proud of the collaborative, in-person culture we continue to build and invest in,” a Compass spokesperson previously told Homes.com.
Baird & Warner ranks as the 34th-largest brokerage in the country, according to RealTrends. The Chicago-based brokerage has nearly 3,400 agents and 36 offices throughout the market after its June acquisition of Dream Town Real Estate.