Compass, Inc.
American residential real estate broker
Compass, Inc. operates a residential real estate brokerage in the United States.[ 4] [ 5] It has approximately 29,000 agents, who are generally independent contractors , on its platform.[ 2]
In 2023, the company completed 178,848 transactions for a gross dollar value of $186.1 billion. It had a market share in the U.S. of 4.5%.[ 2] SoftBank Vision Fund owns 30.1% of the company.[ 3]
History
Compass was founded by Ori Allon, Robert Reffkin , and Avi Dorfman as Urban Compass, Inc. in New York City in October 2012.[ 2] [ 6] Allon was a Director of Engineering at Twitter , and previously founded companies acquired by Twitter and Google .[ 7] Reffkin had previously served as the chief of staff to the president of Goldman Sachs [ 8] and worked in the White House .[ 9] [ 10] Avi Dorfman had previously worked at McKinsey & Company and Lehman Brothers , and founded a startup.
The company raised $8 million of seed funding .[ 10] [ 7] The initial business model employed full-time, salaried brokers[ 11] and was focused only on rentals.[ 12] The service was launched in May 2013.[ 13] [ 12]
In January 2014, Compass announced it would change its overall business model by contracting independent real estate agents, receiving a portion of the broker commission.[ 14]
In July 2014, Compass signed a lease on 25,000 square feet of office space at 90 5th Avenue, which became its global headquarters.[ 15]
In June 2014, Leonard Steinberg, previously with Douglas Elliman , was named president of the company.[ 16] [ 17] At that time, the company had 125 agents and 70 staff members.[ 18]
In July 2016, the company launched a mobile app .[ 19]
The company expanded into several markets, both organically and via acquisitions. By January 2017, the company operated in 9 U.S. markets: New York, Boston, San Francisco, Miami, Washington, the Hamptons, Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, and Aspen.[ 20] At that time, it had 1,300 agents.[ 21]
On April 1, 2021, the company became a public company via an initial public offering .[ 22]
In November 2021, Compass settled with Avi Dorfman, ending an 8-year dispute, and acknowledging him as a member of the founding team.[ 6] The company took a $21.3 million charge in connection with the matter.[ 23]
The company announced several rounds of layoffs in 2022 and 2023.[ 24] [ 25]
Acquisitions
Date
Acquired
Description
Source
November 2014
Lindsay Reishman Real Estate
Washington, D.C.–based broker
[ 26] [ 27]
April 2016
Shane Aspen Real Estate
Aspen-based broker
[ 28]
January 2017
Bushari Real Estate
Boston-based brokerage
[ 29]
April 2018
Conlon
Chicago-based brokerage
[ 30] [ 31]
April 2018
Northwest Group Real Estate
Seattle-based brokerage
[ 32] [ 33]
June 2018
The Hudson Company
Chicago-based brokerage
[ 34] [ 35]
July 2018
Paragon Real Estate Group
San Francisco–based brokerage
[ 36] [ 37]
August 2018
Avenue Properties
Seattle-based brokerage
[ 38] [ 39]
August 2018
Pacific Union International
San Francisco–based brokerage
[ 40] [ 41]
November 2018
Wydler Brothers
Washington, D.C.–based brokerage
[ 42] [ 43]
February 2019
Contactually
CRM provider; shut down in March 2022
[ 44]
March 2019
Alain Pinel Realtors
San Francisco–based brokerage
[ 45] [ 46]
April 2019
Stribling & Associates
New York–based brokerage
[ 47] [ 48]
November 2019
Detectica
AI Startup
[ 49] [ 50] [ 51]
October 2020
Modus
Home closing startup, shut down in June 2022
[ 52] [ 53]
February 2021
KVS Title
Title insurance and settlement services provider
[ 54] [ 55]
April 2021
Glide Labs
Transaction management platform
[ 56] [ 57]
September 2021
First Alliance Title
Title insurance and settlement services provider
[ 58] [ 59]
September 2021
CommonGround Abstract
Title insurance and settlement services provider
[ 60] [ 61]
May 2022
Consumer's Title Company
Title insurance and settlement services provider
[ 62] [ 63]
April 2023
Launch Real Estate
Arizona-based brokerage
[ 64] [ 65]
September 2023
Deasy Penner Podley/DPP
Pasadena-based luxury boutique brokerage
[ 66]
September 2023
Realty Austin and Realty San Antonio
Texas-based brokerages
[ 67] [ 68] [ 69]
January 2024
Attorneys Key Title
Fort Lauderdale–based title company
[ 70]
April 2024
Latter & Blum
Broker operating in Louisiana and Mississippi
[ 71] [ 72]
May 2024
Parks Real Estate
Broker operating in Tennessee
[ 73]
Awards
Compass was named Mid-Sized Business of the Year by the Manhattan Chamber of Commerce in 2015.[ 8]
In 2018, Compass was named to Crain's Fast 50.[ 74]
In January 2019, it was ranked 14th on Glassdoor 's Best Places to Work.[ 75]
In April 2019, Compass received a Webby Award for Best Real Estate Website.[ 76]
In August 2019, it was named one of the Best Workplaces for Innovators by Fast Company .[ 77]
Compass won the 2020 Webby Award in the real estate web category.[ 78]
References
^ MCPHERSON, MARIAN (September 16, 2021). "Avi Dorfman's 8-year battle with Compass is finally over" . Bradley Inman .
^ a b c d "Compass, Inc. 2023 Annual Report (Form 10-K)" . U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission . February 28, 2024.
^ a b "SCHEDULE 14A (Rule 14a-101) INFORMATION REQUIRED IN PROXY STATEMENT SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION" . U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission .
^ Delprete, Mike (May 1, 2019). "How has Compass grown so fast? A look at the numbers" . Bradley Inman .
^ Bourque, Andre (September 28, 2016). "25 Inspiring Entrepreneurs Under 40 Who Are Creating the Next Big Thing" . Entrepreneur .
^ a b Mascarenhas, Natasha (November 16, 2021). "Avi Dorfman's legal battle to be named founding member of Compass has ended in a settlement" . TechCrunch .
^ a b Popper, Ben (November 27, 2012). "After cashing out to Google and Twitter, Ori Allon is going all in with Urban Compass" . The Verge .
^ a b TITLOW, JOHN PAUL (June 18, 2015). "Why This Real Estate App Is Making New York Brokers Nervous" . Fast Company .
^ ROBERTS, DANIEL (October 13, 2014). "Modernizing the New York apartment hunt" . Fortune .
^ a b Lunden, Ingrid (December 16, 2012). "With $8M in Seed Funding From Founders Fund, Goldman Sachs; Urban Compass Wants To Build A Hyper-Local, Human-Powered Database" . TechCrunch .
^ Popper, Ben (May 7, 2013). "Urban Compass: can a startup finally fix the nightmare of renting an apartment in NYC?" . The Verge .
^ a b SHEFTELL, JASON (May 7, 2013). "High-tech start-up Urban Compass hopes to change how we rent and live in new york city" . New York Daily News .
^ Lunden, Ingrid (May 7, 2013). "Urban Compass Comes Out Of Stealth with a Hyperlocal Social Network, And A Disruptive Rental Portal That Will Serve As A Magnet" . TechCrunch .
^ Wiggin, Teke (January 15, 2014). "The big pivot: why Urban Compass has gone traditional" . Bradley Inman .
^ DELAPORTE, GUS (July 22, 2014). "Urban Compass Signs Lease at RFR's 90 Fifth Avenue" . Observer Media .
^ Samtani, Hiten; Kussin, Zachary (June 2, 2014). "Leonard Steinberg exits Douglas Elliman for Urban Compass" . The Real Deal .
^ Taufen, Amber (June 24, 2016). "The Real Trends/WSJ Thousand list for 2016 has been unveiled" . Bradley Inman .
^ Hagey, Paul (November 15, 2014). "Urban Compass launches nationwide expansion push with Washington, DC, acquisition" . Bradley Inman .
^ McAlone, Nathan (July 20, 2016). "This $800 million startup just launched an app to make buying a home easier" . Business Insider .
^ Lunden, Ingrid (January 18, 2017). "Maelle Gavet is the new COO at real estate startup Compass" . TechCrunch .
^ KALFUS, MARILYN (February 5, 2017). "Luxury real estate startup Compass expands to Newport Beach, scores top agent Rob Giem" . Orange County Register .
^ Podder, Sohini (April 1, 2021). "SoftBank-backed Compass valued at $8.22 bln in NYSE debut" . Reuters .
^ "EX-99.1" . U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission .
^ Turner, Matt; Geiger, Daniel; Parker Erb, Jordan; Bullock, Hallam (December 18, 2022). "Compass is reeling from a horrible year, from financial losses to tech troubles to mass layoffs" . Business Insider .
^ C, Priyamvada (January 5, 2023). "Real estate broker Compass to cut more jobs to deal with housing downturn" . Reuters .
^ Haynes, Dion (November 13, 2014). "New York realty firm to open office in D.C." The Washington Post .
^ "Urban Compass Takes First Milestone Step in National Expansion by Acquiring Lindsay Reishman Real Estate in Washington, D.C. Market" (Press release). PR Newswire . November 13, 2014.
^ Glendenning, Lauren (April 1, 2016). "Tech company Compass acquires Shane Aspen Real Estate" . The Aspen Times .
^ Sims, Stephanie; Terchek, Natalie (January 19, 2018). "Compass acquires Bushari Real Estate" . Boston Agent Magazine .
^ Rodkin, Dennis (April 25, 2018). "Compass acquires Chicago brokerage Conlon Christie's" . Crain's Chicago Business .
^ SOUTH, GILL (April 25, 2018). "Compass acquires Chicago's Conlon Real Estate" . Bradley Inman .
^ Solomont, E.B.; Blake, Matthew (March 2, 2020). "Compass faces a reckoning" . The Real Deal .
^ Stiles, Marc (April 25, 2018). "$2.2 billion real estate tech company enters the Puget Sound region market" . American City Business Journals .
^ Lynch, Dennis (June 25, 2018). "Compass buys Hudson Company, continuing Chicago expansion effort" . The Real Deal .
^ Kearns, Patrick (June 25, 2018). "Compass acquires Chicago indie brokerage The Hudson Company" . Bradley Inman .
^ "Paragon Real Estate of SF acquired by Compass to form city's largest brokerage" . San Francisco Chronicle . July 10, 2018.
^ Kearns, Patrick (July 9, 2018). "Compass acquires Paragon, seeks San Francisco market supremacy" . Bradley Inman .
^ Stiles, Marc (August 14, 2018). "Avenue Properties joins real estate tech company Compass" . American City Business Journals .
^ Kearns, Patrick (August 14, 2018). "Compass takes over Avenue Properties' Seattle offices" . Bradley Inman .
^ "Compass buying Pacific Union – its second SF real estate acquisition in two months" . San Francisco Chronicle . August 22, 2018.
^ Norman, Hannah (August 29, 2018). "Compass acquires Pacific Union" . American City Business Journals .
^ "Compass acquires DC indie brokerage" . The Real Deal . November 13, 2018.
^ Kearns, Patrick (November 12, 2018). "Compass Acquires D.C. Indie Wydler Brothers Real Estate" . Bradley Inman .
^ Lunden, Ingrid (February 27, 2019). "Compass acquires Contactually, a CRM provider to the real estate industry" . TechCrunch .
^ Pender, Kathleen (March 5, 2019). "Compass buys Alain Pinel to create Bay Area real estate behemoth" . San Francisco Chronicle .
^ Kelliher, Fiona (March 4, 2019). "Alain Pinel turned down Compass' acquisition offer last year. Now, it's changed its mind" . American City Business Journals .
^ Solomont, E.B. (April 3, 2019). "Compass strikes deal to buy Stribling" . The Real Deal .
^ Kearns, Patrick (April 3, 2019). "Compass to acquire Stribling & Associates" . Bradley Inman .
^ Council, Jared (November 19, 2019). "Real-Estate Brokerage Compass Buys AI Startup Detectica" . The Wall Street Journal . ISSN 0099-9660 .
^ "Compass Acquires Detectica, Deepening Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning Capabilities Across The Compass Real Estate Platform" (Press release). PR Newswire . November 19, 2019.
^ Rosacia, Pam (November 19, 2019). "Home trading platform Compass buys AI company Detectica" . S&P Global .
^ SOPER, TAYLOR (October 5, 2020). "Real estate brokerage Compass to acquire Seattle-based home closing startup Modus" . GeekWire .
^ SOPER, TAYLOR (June 16, 2022). "Real estate giant Compass shuts down Modus, the Seattle-based title business it acquired in 2020" . GeekWire .
^ "Compass Acquires KVS Title" (Press release). PR Newswire . February 25, 2021.
^ Kearns, Patrick (February 25, 2021). "Compass moves deeper into closing services with KVS Title acquisition" . Bradley Inman .
^ James, Cordilia (April 26, 2021). "Compass buys Glide, RE transaction management platform" . The Real Deal .
^ "Compass Agrees to Acquire Real Estate Transaction-Management Platform Glide" (Press release). PR Newswire . April 26, 2021.
^ "Compass Agrees to Acquire First Alliance Title" (Press release). PR Newswire . September 22, 2021.
^ DALRYMPLE II, JIM (September 22, 2021). "Compass scoops up yet another title company" . Bradley Inman .
^ "Compass Agrees to Acquire CommonGround Abstract" (Press release). PR Newswire . September 28, 2021.
^ DALRYMPLE II, JIM (September 28, 2021). "Compass acquiring third title company in less than a month" . Bradley Inman .
^ "Compass Agrees to Acquire Consumer's Title Company of California" (Press release). PR Newswire . May 3, 2022.
^ VERDE, BEN (May 3, 2022). "Compass acquires Consumer's Title Company of California" . Bradley Inman .
^ Gonzales, Angela (April 6, 2023). "Scottsdale's Launch Real Estate joins national giant, introducing it to metro Phoenix" . American City Business Journals .
^ DALRYMPLE II, JIM (April 6, 2023). "Compass scoops up 300-agent indie brokerage in Arizona" . Bradley Inman .
^ Asch, Andrew (September 19, 2023). "Compass acquires Pasadena firm DPP" . The Real Deal .
^ Baird, Cody (September 27, 2023). "Compass buys Realty Austin, Realty San Antonio" . American City Business Journals .
^ MCPHERSON, MARIAN (September 27, 2023). "Compass acquires No. 1 indie brokerage in Central Texas" . Bradley Inman .
^ Lovinger, Joe (September 27, 2023). "Compass Acquires Realty Austin, Realty San Antonio" . The Real Deal .
^ Hinsche, Kate (January 16, 2024). "Compass to acquire Fort Lauderdale-based Attorneys Key Title" . The Real Deal .
^ RIEGEL, STEPHANIE; DAIGLE, ADAM (April 3, 2024). "Louisiana's dominating Latter & Blum sells to country's largest brokerage" . The Times-Picayune/The New Orleans Advocate .
^ DALRYMPLE II, JIM (April 3, 2024). "Compass acquires 3,100-agent Gulf Coast giant Latter & Blum" . Bradley Inman .
^ "Compass Strengthens Footprint in Southeastern U.S., Welcoming the Top Brokerage in Tennessee" . PR Newswire (Press release). May 13, 2024.
^ ANUTA, JOE (October 14, 2018). "Compass" . Crain Communications .
^ Renzulli, Kerri Anne (January 8, 2019). "WORK: The 15 best tech companies to work for in 2019, according to Glassdoor" . CNBC .
^ Liao, Shannon (April 23, 2019). "Here are all the winners of the 2019 Webby Awards" . The Verge .
^ "The 50 best workplaces for innovators" . Fast Company . August 5, 2019.
^ Kastrenakes, Jacob (May 20, 2020). "Here are all the winners of the 2020 Webby Awards" . The Verge .
External links
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