Why the Compass Anywhere deal is a win for boutique brokerages and their clients
The real estate industry recently saw a major shift with the news that Compass is acquiring Anywhere, the parent company behind brands like Coldwell Banker, Sotheby’s, and Century 21. While headlines often focus on the sheer scale of these mega-mergers, our CEO and founder, David Cohen, recently took to the national stage to share a different perspective.
In a featured column for HousingWire, David explores why this massive consolidation actually creates a unique opportunity for boutique, independent brokerages to shine. You can read his full industry analysis here: David vs. Goliath: Why the Compass–Anywhere deal is a win for the little guys.
As David points out, real estate is fundamentally a local, relationship-driven business. When firms become massive corporate behemoths, they often become slower and more removed from the very communities they serve. In a city as nuanced as San Francisco, that distance can be a disadvantage for clients.
Whether you are navigating the competitive market in The Castro, looking for a modern loft in SoMa, or seeking a classic residence in Nob Hill, you need an advocate who understands neighborhood nuances, not just national data. David’s thesis is simple: clients don’t want the biggest brokerage; they want the best representation. They want tailored attention, not templated marketing.
Boutique firms like City Real Estate thrive because we are built differently. We don't answer to a boardroom across the country; we answer to our neighbors here in the city. This independence allows us to be agile, pivoting instantly when the San Francisco market shifts.
As David mentions in his article, "We live in the neighborhoods we represent. Our knowledge doesn’t come from national data, it comes from living and working in the areas we sell." This local immersion is what allows us to provide a level of service that simply cannot be replicated by scale.
One of the most significant concerns with industry consolidation is the potential loss of consumer choice. When a single entity controls a massive portion of the market, the diversity of approach and pricing can start to vanish.
At City Real Estate, we believe that a competitive marketplace fosters innovation and better service. By staying independent and focused on the "human" side of the transaction, we ensure that San Francisco buyers and sellers still have a choice, a choice for personalized expertise over corporate volume.
We invite you to read David’s complete take on how the "Davids" of the real estate world are taking aim at the "Goliaths" to provide better results for homeowners.
Click here to read David Cohen’s full article on HousingWire.
If you are looking for a team that prioritizes relationships over transactions and local expertise over corporate templates, we would love to talk. Whether you are interested in Mission real estate, Russian Hill views, or any other corner of our city, David and the entire City Real Estate team are ready to help you navigate your next move.
Created on 1-16-26
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