R
eal Estate News has highlighted the most influential figures of 2025, and at the forefront is Compass CEO Robert Reffkin. In a year marked by sweeping mergers and deep industry rifts, Reffkin’s vision could turn Compass into the globe’s largest residential brokerage, reshaping how buyers and sellers interact while challenging the dominance of MLSs, portals and the National Association of Realtors (NAR).
Reffkin’s 2025 agenda was dominated by conflict and a bold acquisition. If the pending purchase of Anywhere Real Estate receives approval in 2026, Compass would merge with a firm that boasts roughly 340,000 agents worldwide, creating a $10 billion powerhouse that would dwarf every other brokerage. The deal would also unlock a vast private‑listing inventory, giving Compass a decisive edge in a market that increasingly favors off‑market transactions.
Throughout the year, Reffkin championed “seller choice,” arguing that homeowners should be able to pre‑market their properties and test pricing without the constraints of traditional metrics such as days on market or price reductions. He framed this stance as a battle for consumer and agent freedom against the entrenched rules of MLSs and portals. In a June briefing to agents, he declared that the fight over listing ownership was “the most important moment in real estate history.” Reffkin warned that organized real estate was attempting to dismantle Compass’s three‑phase marketing strategy, but he was determined to keep it alive.
Reffkin’s influence extends beyond the boardroom. With nearly 70,000 followers on Instagram and 63,000 on LinkedIn, he uses social media to amplify Compass’s messaging and to confront rivals. When NAR added a “delayed marketing” clause to its Clear Cooperation Policy in March, several MLSs, including Washington’s Northwest MLS (NWMLS), refused to adopt it. Undeterred, Reffkin launched a private‑exclusive campaign in Seattle that violated NWMLS rules, sparking a social‑media backlash. He accused NWMLS and Seattle brokerage Windermere of colluding to suppress competition, claiming the rules infringed on sellers’ rights. Windermere countered that Compass was attempting to keep listings off the open market to double‑end deals and inflate profits. Reffkin’s posts framed MLSs and Zillow as monopolistic gatekeepers, while positioning Compass agents and consumers as the aggrieved parties.
The dispute escalated to the courts. Compass sued NWMLS in April, and in June filed a lawsuit against Zillow just before the platform was set to enforce new “listing access standards” that would effectively ban certain Compass private listings. These legal battles underscore the broader struggle over data ownership, listing control and the future of real‑estate marketing.
Behind the scenes, Reffkin has assembled a team of executives to support his strategy. Rory Golod, the 39‑year‑old president of growth and communications, has risen through Compass’s ranks since the early 2010s and is now a key voice in promoting the brokerage’s three‑phase marketing approach. In July, Reffkin announced the hiring of Mike Simonsen, a veteran real‑estate data analyst, as chief economist. Simonsen’s expertise in market intelligence is intended to give Compass a competitive advantage as data becomes increasingly critical to agent success.
In September, amid intense litigation, Compass brought on Ethan Glass as chief legal officer. Glass had already been advising Compass on the NWMLS lawsuit and had served as the NAR’s lead antitrust attorney in the Sitzer/Burnett case. His appointment signals Compass’s unwavering commitment to seller choice and its willingness to challenge restrictive practices that limit when, where, and how homeowners can market their properties. Glass’s role will focus on strengthening Compass’s antitrust claims and framing portals and organized real estate as monopolists, while positioning Compass as the reformer.
Reffkin’s 2025 narrative is one of confrontation, innovation and ambition. Whether the Anywhere Real Estate deal closes, the lawsuits resolve in Compass’s favor, and private listings gain traction, his influence on the residential brokerage landscape remains undeniable. As the industry continues to fragment, Reffkin’s push for consumer autonomy and data‑driven strategy could redefine the way homes are bought and sold worldwide.
