A 2025 Comparison for Massachusetts Agents

The Massachusetts real estate market has always been competitive — but over the past 12 to 18 months, something major has shifted.

Agents across Boston, the South Shore, Cape Cod, and greater New England have started rethinking their brokerage model.

As that conversation unfolds, two companies consistently come up:

Real Broker MA and Compass (Boston, South Shore & New England).

Both are known for:

• Cutting-edge technology

• Strong culture

• Agent collaboration

• Modern branding

But beneath the surface, these two brokerages operate on fundamentally different business models — and in Massachusetts, that difference has become clearer than ever.

Brokerage Growth in Massachusetts (12-Month Snapshot)

Looking specifically at brokerages with 500+ agents in Massachusetts over the past 12 months:

Real Broker MA
📈 +81% sales volume growth

Compass Massachusetts
📈 +6% sales volume growth

Growth figures are based on internal brokerage reporting and publicly available production data for brokerages with 500+ agents in Massachusetts. Individual results may vary.

Compass has been a dominant force in Boston and New England for years — and it remains a strong brand.

But Real Broker MA is capturing significant momentum statewide, particularly over the past 12–18 months, as more agents recognize the financial and operational implications of its platform.

Model Comparison: The Key Difference for Massachusetts Agents

Compass Boston, South Shore & New England

A Premium Traditional Model

Compass operates as a modernized, premium version of a traditional brokerage:

• Split-based model (no caps)

• Split plus transaction fee on every deal, regardless of production level

• Well-built, polished technology platform

• High-level in-office support staff

• Large physical office footprint (Boston, Cambridge, Newton, Hingham, Cohasset, Wellesley, and more)

• Strong luxury branding and local market presence

Compass is polished, well-resourced, and highly professional.

However, for teams and high-volume producers in Massachusetts, the split model compounds quickly as production grows, making Compass increasingly expensive at scale.

Real Broker MA

A Cap-Based, Scalable Platform

Real is designed to give agents control over profitability:

• $12,000 annual cap

• Minimal fees after capping

• Fully cloud-based model

• Rezen back-office platform (transactions, compliance, payments)

• Agent Dashboard + Marketing Center

• Heavy investment in AI and automation rolling out in 2026

Real Brokerage positions itself not as a traditional firm, but as a platform for entrepreneurs and teams to scale efficiently.

For Massachusetts agents — especially those in Boston’s urban markets, the South Shore, and Cape Cod — this model has become increasingly compelling.

Technology Comparison for Massachusetts Agents

Compass Platform

Compass offers one of the most polished tech suites in the industry:

• Marketing Center

• CRM and business tracker

• Consumer-facing mobile app

• Listing and presentation tools

• In-house design team

• Strong luxury presentation layer

For Boston and New England agents who prioritize premium branding and aesthetics, Compass sets a high standard.

Real Broker MA Platform

Real’s technology stack is built for speed, efficiency, and scale:

• Rezen (transactions, compliance, payments)

• Business performance dashboard

• Marketing Center

• National collaboration channels

• Cloud-based support

• AI-powered AIRM platform launching in 2026

Compass currently wins on polish.
Real wins on operational efficiency, scalability, and future AI leverage.

Culture & Collaboration in Massachusetts

Both companies emphasize collaboration — but they execute it differently.

Compass New England

• Strong office-based culture

• High-touch, structured environment

• In-person staff support

• Luxury-oriented brand identity

Real Broker MA

• Agent-driven collaboration

• Cross-market learning (Boston ↔ South Shore ↔ Cape Cod ↔ Western MA)

• Growth-minded, entrepreneurial community

• Less hierarchy, more speed

Real’s culture has resonated strongly with Massachusetts agents who want more ownership, more profit, and more autonomy.

Real-World Example: Our Team’s Transition (Compass → Real)

This is where the difference becomes real — literally.

While at Compass (Boston / South Shore) in 2022:

• Sold over $53M

• Paid over $300,000 in brokerage fees in a single year

We were producing at a high level — but keeping very little of the profit.

It didn’t make sense.

Joining Real Broker MA (Early 2023)

We made the move.

Same agents. Same production. New platform.

Results in year one:

• 📈 +$290,000 more net income

• Sales volume remained nearly identical

That additional capital allowed us to:

• Hire more talent

• Expand marketing

• Strengthen operations

• Scale more aggressively

The Growth Flywheel: Profit → Scale → More Profit

2024 Results

• +41% year-over-year increase in sales volume

• +47% year-over-year increase in net income

2025 Outlook

• Tracking to exceed 2024

• None of this required selling more homes just to sell more homes.

  It required choosing the right model.

Wealth Building: Real’s MA Advantage Over Compass

Both Compass and Real offer equity programs, but Real adds:

• Stock rewards

• Stock purchase plan

• Revenue share

• Additional passive income streams launching in 2026

For Massachusetts agents — especially team leaders — this distinction matters.

It’s the difference between:

• Earning income
  and

• Building long-term wealth

Which Brokerage Is Best for Massachusetts Agents?

Choose Compass (Boston / New England) if:

• You prefer a traditional split model

• You value luxury branding and physical office infrastructure

• You want in-person staff and premium presentation

• You’re comfortable with higher costs as production grows

Compass remains a strong company — and for years, it was the default choice for Boston and South Shore agents.

Choose Real Broker MA if:

• You want a cap model with significantly higher profitability

• You are running (or plan to run) a team — Compass becomes very expensive at scale

• You want to lean into AI, automation, and modern infrastructure

• You want to keep more of your commission while building wealth

This is why Real is capturing momentum across Massachusetts and New England at a pace we haven’t seen before.

Final Thought for Massachusetts Agents

You don’t need to sell more homes to earn more money.

You need to understand your numbers — and choose the model that supports them.

Real Brokerage MA gave us the platform and profitability to:

• Scale faster

• Hire better

• Market more effectively

• Build wealth

• Increase optionality

• Regain control of our business

We didn’t just switch brokerages.

We changed the trajectory of our company.

FAQ

Is Real Brokerage better than Compass in Massachusetts?

It depends on your goals. Compass offers premium branding and physical offices, while Real Brokerage MA provides a cap-based model that significantly improves profitability for high-producing agents and teams.

How much does Real Brokerage MA cost compared to Compass?

Real Brokerage MA has a $12,000 annual cap with minimal fees after capping. Compass operates on a split-based model with no cap, which becomes increasingly expensive as production grows.

Why are Massachusetts agents leaving Compass for Real?

Many agents cite higher net income, scalability, reduced fees, and better long-term wealth-building opportunities at Real Broker MA.

Is Real Brokerage MA good for teams?

Yes. The cap-based model, revenue share, and scalable infrastructure make Real especially attractive for team leaders in Boston, the South Shore, and Cape Cod.

Does Real Brokerage MA offer offices in Massachusetts?

Real operates primarily as a cloud-based brokerage, prioritizing flexibility, efficiency, and agent autonomy over physical office space.