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Steve Murray

Beyond the merger: Are real estate agent splits and autonomy the next battleground

Agent, Anywhere, Brokerage, Compass, eXp World Holdings, Mergers and Acquisitions, NextHome, Real Estate, REMAX, Steve Murray, The Real Brokerage /

Much of the conversation surrounding the recent wave of real estate industry consolidation has focused on how these mergers and acquisitions will impact things like market share and private listings, as well as companies’ finances. But how exactly will the newly formed mega brokerage entities impact their agents? Well that depends on who you ask.  […]

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Is the future of brokerage independent? Why hyperlocal is beating scale in today’s brokerage battle

Brokerage, Brown Harris Stevens, Howard Hanna Real Estate Services, HWmember, Lamacchia Realty, LeadingRE, Real Estate, RealTrends Verified Rankings, Steve Murray /

Over the past year, consolidation has consumed the real estate industry, with many questioning if mid-sized regional independent firms would be able to survive, let alone contend in this emerging environment dominated by national monoliths like eXp Realty and Compass International Holdings. The 2026 RealTrends Verified Rankings, however, make these concerns seem irrelevant.  Independent brokerages

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The platform play: How Real, LPT Realty are reshaping brokerage growth

Brokerage, HWmember, LPT Realty, Real Estate, Real Estate Recruiting, RealTrends 500, RealTrends Verified Rankings, Steve Murray, Tamir Poleg, Technology, The Real Brokerage /

RealTrends Verified’s 2026 brokerage rankings reveal clear momentum for technology-fueled challengers, with The Real Brokerage and LPT Realty again emerging as significant movers. The Real Brokerage, led by CEO Tamir Poleg, held steady at No. 5 by sales volume with $65.2 billion. But the company’s more notable achievement came in transaction sides, where it jumped

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Real estate leaders weigh in on potential ban on large investors

Affordability, Anthony Lamacchia, Brokerage, eXp Realty, Homebuyers, Housing Inventory, HWmember, Institutional investors, Real Estate, Steve Murray /

President Donald Trump announced plans to ban large institutional investors from buying single-family homes earlier this week, arguing the move would ease competition for families and improve housing affordability. The proposal has reignited a long-running debate over the role Wall Street-backed landlords play in the housing market — and whether restricting them would meaningfully lower

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Expert speaks on Compass-Anywhere market share, consolidation

Anywhere, Brokerage, Compass, HWmember, Mergers and Acquisitions, Real Estate, Real Estate Agents, RealTrends Verified Rankings, Steve Murray, Title insurance /

Compass’s acquisition of Anywhere Real Estate creates a national brokerage powerhouse — but industry veteran Steve Murray says the deal’s biggest effects will be in scale, services and back-office consolidation. Murray — senior advisor for HousingWire and founder of RealTrends and RTC Consulting —estimates the combined Compass-Anywhere operation will handle roughly a million transaction sides

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Real estate brokerage profit margins show signs of stabilization

Brokerage, HWmember, Real Estate, RealTrends, Steve Murray /

Real estate brokerages may no longer be at the profitability peak they hit during the height of the pandemic housing market, but their margins are showing signs of stabilization after the market rapidly shifted in 2022 due to the interest rate hikes, according to data published by real estate brokerage accounting software and services provider

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How to navigate a successful brokerage acquisition

Brokerage, Compass, HWmember, Mergers and Acquisitions, Real Estate, RealTrends, Redfin, Rocket Companies, Steve Murray, The Gathering, The Gathering 2025 /

In the wake of the National Association of Realtors’ (NAR) nationwide commission lawsuit settlement, RealTrends Consulting co-founder Steve Murray predicted a new wave of industry consolidation.  “Almost any time in history the U.S. federal government gets involved in this kind of litigation against a whole industry and imposes draconian changes to that industry, it causes

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