In the listing wars, consumers are a proxy for the real customer
Compass and NWMLS framed their recent settlement as “pro-consumer,” but neither serves buyers and sellers — they serve agents, who were the big winners.
September 4, 2026
Nick Aufenkamp, Founder & Broker, The Tartan Team
Nick Aufenkamp is a real estate broker in Vancouver, Washington, and the founder of The Tartan Team. He and his agents take a client-first approach, offering a tiered model rather than a one-size-fits-all service and fee structure.
His popular Substack, Realtor Gone Rogue, explores topics including real estate incentives, consumer advocacy and alternative service models, and has garnered the attention of industry leaders. Nick has also been quoted in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal and trade media for his perspectives on buyer agent compensation reform following the NAR settlement.
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