Compass completes its acquisition of Anywhere

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Today's newsletter is 757 words, a 2.5-minute read.

1. Compass completes its acquisition of Anywhere

Compass Inc. announced Friday that it has completed its $1.6 billion acquisition of Anywhere Real Estate, creating the world’s largest real estate brokerage by a wide margin.

The deal closed after shareholders of both companies overwhelmingly approved the all-stock merger, valuing the combined company at approximately $10 billion.

The newly combined business will operate under the name Compass International Holdings and will be led by Compass founder and CEO Robert Reffkin, who will serve as chairman and CEO of the post-merger company.

The combined company now oversees more than 340,000 agents worldwide, including about 40,000 formerly affiliated with Compass and roughly 300,000 from Anywhere’s operations.

2. Jorgenson Group launches independent brokerage after 16 years with Keller Williams

Round Rock–based Jorgenson Group is officially launching Jorgenson Real Estate, an independent brokerage, after 16 years operating within Keller Williams Realty (KWR), founder Kasey Jorgenson announced.

Jorgenson said the move was driven by operational alignment and the evolving needs of experienced agents, rather than any dissatisfaction with leadership or culture at KWR.

Jorgenson Real Estate will operate as a locally rooted, brick-and-mortar brokerage focused on experienced agents seeking flexibility, competitive commission structures, and meaningful business leverage. The firm will offer multiple operating paths, including optional team-lead and lead-provided models, allowing agents to opt in or out based on their business needs.

A MESSAGE FROM DAVE YOUR MORTGAGE GUY

Divorce listings can get messy, especially when equity splits block your buyer’s and Seller’s ability to move forward.
Most people think it’s sell, cash-out or nothing, but there’s another path: an Owelty Lien.
It lets one spouse buy out the other without needing to sell immediately or refinance, lets break the benefits down:

• Takes the stress off you if the listing sits for a bit!

• If one party doesn’t want to sell immediately such as selling after kids start school etc

• This can also help them from needing to do a cashout refinance if there is not enough equity to do one!

This 2 min video breaks it down in plain English: 👉 Watch #1 Divorce Mortgage Hack Now

Position yourself as the expert who brings calm to chaos along with an exact plan! Let’s partner up and walk these clients thru the best plan for them!
– DYMG

P.S. Also check out my Ebook on Navigating Homeownership During a Divorce for a whole bunch of other tips! This ebook is perfect for your client going thru or thinking of getting divorced.

3. Catch up quick

🌆 How the real estate industry is changing in Texas. (DallasFed)

🏠 Student loans are delaying homeownership by 10 years. (NMP)

💸 Financial hurdles dominate millennial homebuying plans. (CleverOffers)

📉 Housing payments drop to the lowest level in 2 years. (Redfin)

4. Report: Home affordability remains strained

According to ATTOM’s latest U.S. Home Affordability Report, released Thursday, homes remained less affordable than historic norms in nearly every U.S. county at the end of 2025, despite modest improvements late in the year.

In 99% of the 594 counties analyzed, median-priced single-family homes and condos were less affordable than historical averages in the fourth quarter. This marked the third consecutive quarter with affordability below long-term norms, as the national median home price hovered near a record high of $365,000.

Still, there were signs of slight improvement. In 86% of counties (511 of 594), homes were more affordable in the fourth quarter of 2025 compared to the third quarter.

5. Fed chair Powell faces DOJ investigation

Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell said Sunday that the Department of Justice (DOJ) has served the central bank with subpoenas and threatened a criminal indictment related to his testimony on the Fed’s building renovations.

The move marks a significant escalation in President Trump’s ongoing conflict with the Federal Reserve, an independent agency he has repeatedly criticized for not cutting its key interest rate as quickly as he would like.

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