The last debacle by Ketchmark cost Compass $52 million - there is no way that we will keep putting ourselves at risk of more lawsuits. It's why Robert Reffkin has been so adamant about disolving the Clear Cooperation Policy, even though he doesn't state it often...
Pocket Listings

Off-Market Sales, 2025
It's a hot topic among real estate agents, but how widespread are the off-market sales? We saw that in the last blog post that 155 NSDCC homes that have gone pending this year have already closed escrow. But let's back it up to get a bigger sample and look at all of...
Compass Cooperates With Outside Agents
Robert Reffkin has heard enough and wants to address the rumors: Many of you have heard things like “Compass is trying to sell listings off-market,” and “Compass is trying to double end deals.” These misconceptions are intentionally designed to create fear in the...
Reffkin on 2025
I love that Robert Reffkin is becoming the industry spokesman - what he says is mostly accurate and informative. For the record, yesterday we had Natalie film my next video before I saw the boss talking about 2025 inventory:

Off-Market Armageddon
I was in Orange County yesterday and saw this in a local publication: The off-market craze is just getting started. We've already been hearing the hucksters at open houses who lead with their only pitch: "I operate in the off-market space." "Does your agent offer you...

Off-Market Sales
The off-market sales are an attractive option for big shots like John above who prefer to protect their privacy, blah, blah. What about the regular folk? Is there a bulk of sales happening off-market? How many off-market sales are there in the general marketplace?...
Racing Towards Single Agency, Part 2
I spoke to a few agents on the broker preview yesterday about business this year, and the common theme was that agents are have big trouble finding people who want to sell their home. It suggests that the inventory of quality homes will be extremely low this year....
Olivenhain 2 Acres With View
This was the Private Exclusive off-market listing that hit our intra-office website late in the afternoon and literally the next day most of the top Compass agents and me rushed over there to check it out. Both buyer and seller take a gamble on price when transacting...
Private Exclusives
One sign isn't going to change the world, but it's an example of how home sales will be changing in the future. If/when homes are sold in-house (not exposed to outside brokers and buyers) like commercial properties, Compass should extend its dominance in San Diego...
Emerging Markets
Hat tip to Rob Dawg who sent in this article that suggests Salinas ranks higher than San Diego and Ventura! I cannot find the 60 metro areas on the luxury list they talk about here so not sure about the overall rankings. Coastal California has seen a surge of interest...