Zillow just lobbed another headline into its ongoing feud with Compass.
According to a new Zillow Group survey, 53% of Anywhere Real Estate agents say they would or might consider leaving their brokerage if Compass’s planned $1.6 billion acquisition of Anywhere goes through.
The survey, fielded in late October, suggests unease among agents inside one of the largest brokerage networks in the country. Of course, it’s also coming straight from a company that’s been locked in an ongoing courtroom and media battle with Compass.
What the Zillow Survey Found
Here’s what Zillow says its latest data revealed about Anywhere agents:
- 18% said they definitely will leave their brokerage in the next year if Compass acquires Anywhere.
- 35% said they might consider leaving.
- 23% said the acquisition would have a negative impact on their business.
The survey also delved into how agents at Anywhere feel about a private listing network, which is a key Compass strategy that continues to spark debate in the industry.
- 70% said it is not in a seller’s best interest to sell their home on a private listing network
- 55% said those private networks benefit the brokerage (34%) or agent (20%) more than sellers (16%) or buyers (12%).
- 98% said private listing networks could have at least one negative impact, such as reduced access for lower-income buyers or potential fair-housing concerns.
The findings line up with Zillow’s ongoing position that private, off-market listings, like Compass’s “Private Exclusives,” reduce transparency and harm both competition and consumers.
Compass’s Acquisition of Anywhere
In September, Compass announced plans to acquire Anywhere Real Estate, parent company to brands like Coldwell Banker, Century 21, Corcoran, and Sotheby’s International Realty, in an all-stock deal valued at $1.6 billion.
The merger would create the world’s largest residential brokerage network, representing more than 340,000 real estate professionals across over 120 countries.
At the time, Compass CEO Robert Reffkin framed the deal as a way to “build a place where real estate professionals can thrive for decades to come,” while preserving the independence of Anywhere’s brands.
But this new Zillow survey suggests that not everyone inside Anywhere is feeling inspired by the merger.
A Familiar Battle Over Transparency
This latest release also reignites the central argument that has defined Zillow and Compass’s relationship this year: Who controls listing visibility, and who benefits from it.
In June, Compass filed a federal antitrust lawsuit against Zillow, alleging that the portal’s Listing Access Standards unfairly block competition by banning any listing not added to the MLS within 24 hours of public marketing. Compass claimed the rule effectively penalized brokerages that offer private listing strategies.
Zillow fired back, calling Compass’s three-phased marketing model a “Hidden Listing Scheme” designed to keep listings off public platforms until the company could benefit from Zillow’s massive audience.
In that July court filing, Zillow argued that Compass’s approach “controls consumers’ access to home listings, reduces competition, and increases commissions.”
Now, just months later, Zillow is publishing data implying that Anywhere agents largely share its skepticism toward private listings.
Whether the survey perfectly reflects agent sentiment or not, it’s a strategic release, and another reminder that the battle between Zillow and Compass is far from over.
