Why Compass Is Being Blackballed by Zillow and Redfin

There’s been a lot of noise in the real estate space lately, and I want to set the record straight. Compass is being actively blackballed by Zillow and Redfin, and it’s not because we’re doing anything wrong. It’s because we’re doing something different—something better.

At Compass, we’ve built a smarter way to sell homes. One of our key strategies is the use of Private Exclusives, a way for our agents to market properties within our internal network before they hit the MLS. This allows our sellers to test different price points, gauge interest, and build momentum without putting their homes on the public stage right away. It’s a strategy that puts control back in the hands of the seller, and it works.

But not everyone is thrilled about it, especially Zillow.

Zillow’s business depends on MLS data. When a property isn’t on the MLS, they can’t monetize it. No listing means no lead, and no lead means no profit. That’s what this is really about. Because we’ve given our agents and their clients another way, one that doesn’t immediately funnel listings into the hands of third-party platforms, Zillow and Redfin have decided to try to block us out.

Make no mistake: this is a power move. They’re using their influence in the industry to keep Compass from playing on the same field. But we’re not just going to sit back and let that happen.

Instead, we’ve partnered with Homes.com to publish listings directly. This gives our agents and their clients more exposure, without relying on platforms that don’t support our vision of a more flexible, modern real estate experience.

This isn’t just about one company’s listings. It’s about who controls the future of real estate. We believe it should be the people actually doing the work: the agents and the clients we serve. That’s what we’re fighting for, and we’re not backing down.

Are you thinking about selling and want a strategy that puts you in control?

Reach out to us.