The real estate industry saw a major shift recently with the announcement that Compass has reached a deal involving Anywhere Real Estate, one of the largest real estate companies in the world. Moves like this always spark questions from homeowners, buyers, and agents — especially around topics like off-market listings, MLS exposure, and how homes should be sold in today’s market.
If you’re thinking about selling a home in Maryland, here’s what this change means, what people are talking about in the industry right now, and how to decide whether your home should be listed on the MLS or sold off market.
What is the Compass / Anywhere Real Estate deal?
Compass, one of the fastest-growing brokerages in the U.S., recently entered into an agreement with Anywhere Real Estate, the parent company behind major brands like Coldwell Banker, Sotheby’s, Century 21, and Better Homes & Gardens Real Estate.
The deal allows Compass to gain access to certain listings and marketing opportunities connected to Anywhere’s network, and it has sparked industry conversation about private listings, exclusive listings, and the future of the MLS.
While the details of the agreement mainly affect brokerages internally, the bigger discussion happening across the country is this:
Should homes be marketed privately first, or should they go straight on the MLS?
That question matters a lot for sellers — because the strategy you choose can affect price, exposure, and how quickly your home sells.
What is the MLS and why does it matter?
The MLS (Multiple Listing Service) is the system where real estate agents list homes for sale so that all agents — and their buyers — can see them.
When a home is listed on the MLS:
It is visible to thousands of agents
It appears on Zillow, Realtor.com, Redfin, etc.
It reaches the largest possible pool of buyers
It creates competition, which can increase price
For most sellers, the MLS provides the highest level of exposure, which usually leads to the strongest offers.
However, the MLS is not the only way to sell a home.
What are off-market listings?
An off-market listing (sometimes called a private listing or exclusive listing) means the home is not immediately placed on the MLS.
Different brokerages call these different things:
Compass Private Exclusives
Anywhere network listings
eXp Exclusives
Office exclusives
Coming soon / pre-MLS marketing
At eXp Realty, we offer eXp Exclusives, which allow sellers to market their home privately within the brokerage before deciding whether to go fully public on the MLS.
Off-market listings are not new — but the Compass / Anywhere deal has made them a much bigger topic in the industry.
When does it make sense to sell off market?
Off-market listings can be helpful in certain situations, especially when a seller wants more control over the process.
Some common scenarios include:
1. Privacy concerns
Some sellers don’t want photos of their home online or don’t want neighbors to know they are selling.
This is common with:
High-profile clients
Luxury homes
Estate sales
Divorce situations
Tenant-occupied properties
2. Testing the market without pressure
Some sellers want to see what buyers might offer before officially listing.
Off-market marketing can help gauge interest without starting the official days-on-market clock.
3. Unique or hard-to-price properties
Homes that are very custom, historic, or unusual sometimes benefit from targeted marketing before going public.
4. Quick or quiet sales
Sometimes a seller already has a buyer or wants a faster, simpler transaction.
In those cases, an off-market strategy can work well.
When is the MLS usually the better choice?
For most sellers, listing on the MLS is still the best way to maximize value.
The MLS is usually the right choice when:
You want the highest possible price
You want multiple offers
The home appeals to a broad audience
The market is competitive
Timing matters
More exposure usually means more buyers — and more buyers usually means better terms.
This is why experienced listing agents often recommend starting with a strategy, not a system.
Sometimes the best plan is off market first, then MLS.
Sometimes it’s MLS immediately.
Sometimes it’s a combination.
How eXp Exclusives work
At eXp Realty, sellers have the option to use eXp Exclusives, which allows a home to be marketed privately within the brokerage network before going public.
This can include:
Marketing to agents inside eXp nationwide
Private showings
Direct buyer outreach
Pre-MLS marketing campaigns
If the seller wants maximum exposure later, the home can still be listed on the MLS.
This flexibility allows us to build a strategy based on the seller’s goals — not just one default approach.
Why strategy matters more than the brokerage name
With all the headlines about Compass, Anywhere, private listings, and exclusives, it’s easy to think the brokerage itself is what determines success.
In reality, the most important factor is the listing strategy and the experience of the agent guiding it.
Pricing, timing, exposure, negotiation, and marketing all matter more than which company sign is in the yard.
That’s why sellers should work with agents who understand:
When to go off market
When to go on the MLS
How to create competition
How to position a home for the current market
How to adjust strategy based on buyer response
Work with Maryland listing experts — Frank Oliver Collective at eXp Realty
If you’re thinking about selling a home in Maryland and want expert guidance on whether to list on the MLS or sell off market, the Frank Oliver Collective at eXp Realty, led by Michael Frank, GRI®, is one of the most experienced real estate teams in the region.
With over 15 years of experience, more than 500 families helped, and hundreds of successful listings across Maryland, our team has handled every type of sale — including MLS listings, off-market transactions, luxury homes, investment properties, and pre-market strategies.
Michael Frank is consistently ranked among the Top Realtors in Maryland, has been featured in Baltimore Real Producers Top 500, and serves on multiple Greater Baltimore Board of Realtors committees. The Frank Oliver Collective is known for combining data-driven pricing, strategic marketing, and strong negotiation to help sellers get the best possible results.
We offer both traditional MLS listings and private marketing options like eXp Exclusives, and we help each seller choose the approach that fits their goals.
If you’re considering selling, the first step is getting expert advice.
Contact the Frank Oliver Collective at eXp Realty to discuss your home, your timing, and the best strategy for today’s market.
