Kai and Emil | September 2025
Big things are on the horizon, and if you’re a client, friend, or follower of Compass, you’ll want to pay attention.
Compass recently announced its plan to acquire Anywhere Real Estate in an all-stock deal. There are lots of articles about this so we will only give you direct source from Compass. Here is the investor announcement by Compass. The combined company is expected to have an enterprise value of approximately $10 billion. If approved, the merger would grow Compass’s network from around 40,000 agents to nearly 340,000 agents worldwide. That would make Compass the largest real estate brokerage in the world by agent count and open a new era of global connectivity, marketing power, and reach for clients and agents alike.
But let’s be clear: this merger is still pending. Regulatory approvals, integration plans, and industry reactions all stand between the announcement and reality. And there are many voices, supportive and skeptical, watching closely to see what unfolds.
A Personal Perspective
For Emil and me, this isn’t just another headline. We spent a total of 19 years with Sotheby’s International Realty, one of Anywhere’s flagship brands, before joining Compass. That history gives us a unique perspective.
The cultures could not be more different. Anywhere carries legacy and scale, but Compass feels fundamentally agents first. Compass recognizes that agents are the true assets of this business.
Because Compass sees agents as its foundation, it invests directly in us, and that’s why its technology is so far ahead. The tools we use every day aren’t just products, they’re built as a reflection of Compass’s commitment to make agents more effective, more connected, and better able to serve clients.
Compass is also working to shift power back toward agents and brokerages, instead of large real estate portals that monetize the very information we create. By reducing reliance on platforms like Zillow, and building strength at the agent level, Compass is putting us in a position to deliver even better service to clients and consumers.
If this merger succeeds, it could put the industry into the right perspective: agents do the hard work, and companies should be built to empower them.
Who Is Compass Merging With?
Anywhere Real Estate is one of the largest players in the industry, home to some of the most recognized brands in the world:
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Sotheby’s International Realty
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Coldwell Banker
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Century 21
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Corcoran Group
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ERA Real Estate
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Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate
If the merger is approved, these heritage networks will integrate into Compass’s platform, creating one unified, tech-forward ecosystem that spans nearly every major real estate market across the globe.
What a 340,000-Agent Network Means for You
For clients, this isn’t just about size, it’s about smarter, stronger connections.
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Sellers on the Big Island will gain unprecedented exposure to buyers in Tokyo, Los Angeles, Vancouver, and beyond.
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Buyers relocating to Hawai‘i will have seamless access to trusted Compass and legacy-brand agents in their home markets.
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Luxury listings in Kona, Hualālai, Kukio, and the Kohala Coast will have global reach like never before.
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Second-home owners will benefit from smoother relocation support, referrals, and cross-border coordination.
What excites me most is how this potential merger blends legacy and innovation. Anywhere brings decades of brand equity and client trust. Compass brings a tech platform that is far ahead, precisely because the company invests in agents first.
Robert Reffkin’s Message
Our CEO, Robert Reffkin, shared his vision in a message to all Compass agents, which I think speaks volumes:
“Today marks a monumental step for the future of our company, one that fulfills our mission to empower you with everything you need to grow your businesses and better serve home sellers and home buyers. By bringing together these two companies, we are unlocking new opportunities for agent-to-agent client referrals, expanding our reach to ~120 countries and territories, and enhancing your ability to deliver more value to home sellers and home buyers at every stage of their real estate journey.”
He emphasized that each company will continue to operate separately and independently, keeping their own brands, platforms, and cultures. And most importantly, as he reminded us:
“The core of what you love about Compass, our culture, our platform, our brand, and our commitment to you, remains the same. As always, every Compass employee, including your Sales Manager, remains focused on investing in you and your success.”
The transaction is expected to close in the second half of 2026. Until then, as Robert said, our job is to stay focused on what matters most: supporting our clients with humility, thoughtfulness, and respect for our colleagues across the industry.
Closing Thoughts
It’s still early, and there’s no guarantee this merger will be finalized. But if it does, Compass would become the largest real estate brokerage in the world. More importantly, it could help return power to where it belongs: with the agents who do the work, and the clients we serve.
For us in Hawai‘i, it means more reach, better tools, and stronger connections, anchored by local knowledge and relationships that can’t be replaced by scale alone.
If you’re curious about what this changing landscape might mean for your next move, whether on the Big Island or beyond, let’s talk.
Warmest aloha,
KE TEAM