Seattle’s Top Real Estate Team Ditches Compass for Tech-First Brokerage

MIAMI, FL – January 21, 2026 – In a move that reverberates through the competitive Pacific Northwest real estate market, Seattle’s top-producing real estate team, the McConnell Group, has left Compass to join The Real Brokerage Inc. (NASDAQ: REAX). The transition of the 34-agent team, which has sold over $1.4 billion in real estate, is a significant validation of tech-forward, agent-centric brokerage models and highlights a growing industry trend of high-performance teams seeking greater autonomy and advanced technological support.

Founded by Sean and Nicolette McConnell in 2017, the team, formerly known as the NK Team, has been a dominant force in the Seattle area. It was consistently ranked as Compass’s top-producing team in the city and recognized by the industry benchmark RealTrends Verified as Seattle’s top-selling Large Team for three consecutive years from 2021 to 2023. In the latest 2024 rankings, they secured the No. 4 spot nationally for Mega Teams. With an average of over $230 million in annual home sales across more than 1,700 transactions in the past eight years, their departure from a traditional powerhouse like Compass marks a pivotal moment for the local market and the brokerage industry at large.

The Great Migration of Mega Teams

The McConnell Group's decision is not an isolated event but rather a high-profile example of a broader exodus of elite agents and teams from established, legacy brokerages. Industry analysts have observed a clear pattern where top performers are increasingly drawn to cloud-based platforms that offer a different value proposition. These modern brokerages are built on a foundation of proprietary technology, attractive financial incentives like revenue sharing and equity, and a culture that empowers agents as entrepreneurs rather than just employees.

For teams that have already built a powerful brand and a significant book of business, the constraints of a traditional brokerage can become limiting. The move to a platform like Real often represents a strategic pivot towards long-term scalability and brand ownership. Sean McConnell’s own words underscore this motivation.

“Choosing a brokerage is a consequential decision, especially for a mega team that has worked hard to build a trusted reputation and a business designed to last,” McConnell stated. “We were intentional about finding a platform that would allow us to continue growing while maintaining ownership of our brand, our culture and our long-term vision.”

This sentiment is echoed across the industry. Top teams are looking for partners, not just employers. They require a flexible framework that supports their unique operational structure—in the McConnell Group's case, this includes in-house marketing, a dedicated videographer, and extensive contract coordination—while providing the national reach and technological firepower to compete in a digital-first world.

Real Brokerage's Strategic Seattle Surge

For The Real Brokerage, attracting a team of the McConnell Group's caliber is a major strategic victory. It not only plants a formidable flag in the greater Seattle area but also serves as a powerful proof-of-concept for its agent-centric model. The company, which now supports over 32,000 agents across North America, has been on an aggressive growth trajectory, positioning itself as the destination for forward-thinking real estate professionals.

“Sean, Nicolette and the entire McConnell Group have built an exceptional organization rooted in systems, collaboration and agent development,” said Tamir Poleg, Chairman and CEO of The Real Brokerage. “We’re proud to welcome them to Real and look forward to supporting their continued growth.”

Real’s expansion strategy is multifaceted, combining organic agent attraction with strategic acquisitions. The company recently acquired the AI-powered home search technology from Flyhomes, another Seattle-based innovator. This move is intended to bolster Real’s consumer-facing AI platform, Leo for Clients, aiming to create a seamless end-to-end experience for homebuyers. By bringing a top-performing team and cutting-edge technology into its fold in the same market, Real is mounting a serious challenge to established players and reshaping local market dynamics.

Beyond the Commission Split: What Agents Really Want

The decision to switch brokerages today goes far beyond simple commission splits. While financial incentives are crucial, top teams are evaluating brokerages on a more holistic set of criteria, including technology, culture, and wealth-building opportunities. The Real Brokerage has built its platform around these modern demands.

At the core of its offering is a proprietary technology stack designed to streamline agent workflow. This includes the reZEN dashboard for transaction and commission tracking, a complimentary digital signature tool, and Leo, an AI-powered assistant that provides real-time support on everything from deal questions to company policies. This focus on leveraging AI to enhance productivity is a key differentiator.

Furthermore, the brokerage offers agents multiple avenues for financial growth beyond commissions. Its WealthPlan tool helps agents visualize their potential earnings through revenue sharing and stock equity programs, directly tying their success to the company's growth. This model fosters a sense of ownership and partnership that is often absent in more traditional structures.

The cultural component is equally critical. The McConnell Group emphasized its desire for a platform with a strong, collaborative culture. Real actively fosters this through a national network where agents are encouraged to share knowledge and support one another, supplemented by daily cloud-based training sessions and masterminds led by top producers. This blend of high-tech tools and a high-touch, supportive community appears to be the winning formula for attracting and retaining the industry's best.

McConnell’s statement reinforces this, highlighting Real’s “strong culture, unmatched technology and agent-focused infrastructure that supports not only who we are as a team but also our next phase of growth.” For the McConnell Group and many others like them, the future of real estate lies not with the firms that simply take a cut, but with the platforms that provide the tools, culture, and ownership opportunities to help them build an enduring enterprise.