Compass finds a new outlet for exclusive listings: Redfin 

Compass has forged a "first-of-its-kind" partnership with Rocket, the companies announced today, giving the country's largest brokerage a new platform for its exclusive listing inventory. 

The real estate giants signed "a three-year strategic alliance" allowing Compass to display private listings on Redfin, the brokerage and search portal acquired by Rocket last March. The deal was first reported by The Wall Street Journal. 

Increased exposure: Effective immediately, Compass' "Coming Soon" listings will appear on Redfin, according to a news release, with "Private Exclusives" to follow. Those listing categories represent the first two phases of Compass' three-phased marketing strategy — an approach that has been the subject of intense debate within the industry.  

"This unique inventory has the potential to bring more than 500,000 additional listings to the Redfin platform," the company said, highlighting Compass' vast brokerage network following its acquisition of Anywhere Real Estate and its associated brands.

What Redfin visitors won't see: The Compass listings won't include all property data, according to a Compass spokesperson, who described the deal as a "first-of-its kind experience." Days on market and price reductions will not be displayed, until and unless the seller decides to list on the open market. Those metrics, Compass has said, are "negative insights" that disadvantage sellers. 

A mutually beneficial partnership: Compass agents will receive buyer leads through Redfin, and Rocket Mortgage will offer "preferred pricing" to Compass clients in the form of a one-percentage-point rate reduction for the first year of their loan or a lender credit of up to $6,000, the companies said. 

At the same time, Redfin gains more listings, which means more consumer traffic and more potential buyer leads for Redfin agents as well, according to the announcement.

For its part, Rocket will benefit from having its mortgage offerings integrated into Compass' platform. 

What the company leaders had to say: "When barriers are removed and supply grows, affordability improves," Rocket CEO Varun Krishna said in the news release. "By bringing search, agents and financing into one connected platform, we can help more sellers enter the market, reduce complexity for buyers and make homeownership more attainable," he added — a theme he has often repeated in recent months. 

Compass CEO Robert Reffkin also reiterated his message of "seller choice," stating, "We believe listing agents should be connected directly with interested buyers, and sellers should have the freedom to list their homes in the manner and method they choose."

Compass is also "reclaiming the digital yard sign for our agents and our brokerage brands" through the deal, Reffkin said during a Feb. 26 call with investors. "This benefit cannot be understated, as it will significantly expand consumer awareness of our agents and our nine brokerage brands," he added.

An unlikely alliance: Such an agreement would have seemed improbable last April. At that time, Zillow had just announced new listing standards barring property listings that had been publicly marketed but not widely available via the MLS or IDX feeds — a move that would potentially block many Compass listings. 

Days later, Redfin said it would follow suit, with then-CEO Glenn Kelman making a pledge to bar such listings. Redfin indicated in May that it would begin enforcing its ban in September 2025, but that plan appeared to be delayed after the Rocket acquisition closed. 

While Compass sued Zillow over its listing ban — and implicated Redfin and Kelman in the alleged conspiracy — relations have since warmed. "Obviously it's interesting because Redfin was a co-conspirator in our lawsuit with Zillow, but now we're partnered together," a Compass spokesperson told Real Estate News. "So, you know, things have changed, but we're really excited about that."

As for Kelman? In August, he said Redfin and Rocket shared a similar vision, declaring his intention to stay on with the company "forever" — but priorities may have diverged in the months that followed. In January, Kelman announced his departure from Redfin.