Compass Says Washington State’s Ban on Private Listings Doesn’t Forbid Its ‘Private Exclusives’

Compass stated that Washington State's new law banning private real estate listings does not prohibit its "Private Exclusives" or "Coming Soon" marketing strategies. This new legislation, signed by Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson in March and effective this week, aims to prevent brokers from marketing properties to select groups unless they are also advertised to the general public. Compass, a major residential real estate broker, has built part of its brand on "Private Exclusives," which allow sellers to gauge interest and pricing before a public launch. The company's marketing outlines a three-tiered exposure process: "Private Exclusives" shared internally, "Coming Soon" listings appearing on Compass and Redfin websites, and finally, traditional public listings. A Compass spokesperson asserted that both "Private Exclusives" and "Coming Soons" comply with the new law, explaining that "Private Exclusives" are only privately available online, but agents and consumers from other firms can view them at Compass offices. In May 2025, Compass introduced a service enabling agents from any brokerage to access these listings at Compass offices. The company argues the law upholds homeowner choice by allowing pre-MLS or pre-public marketing.