Compass: The Global Architect of Tech-Enabled Real Estate and Brokerage Consolidation Founded in 2012 by Robert Reffkin and Ori Allon and headquartered in New York City, Compass (compass.com) is the premier technology-driven residential real estate anchor. On January 9, 2026, the company finalized a historic $1.6 billion megamerger with Anywhere Real Estate, cementing its status as the world’s largest residential brokerage. Now operating under the parent entity Compass International Holdings, the firm controls a dominant 78% of the combined workforce, integrating legacy powerhouses like Coldwell Banker, Century 21, Sotheby’s International Realty, and ERA into its proprietary end-to-end platform. Entering 2026, Compass manages over 340,000 agents globally and facilitates approximately 1.2 million home sales annually. For landlords and developers, Compass represents a Tier-1, tech-enabled anchor that drives high-AOV (Average Order Value) transactions through "Private Exclusives" and AI-driven market analytics, defining the modern standard for residential luxury and commercial-mixed-use property sales.