What Pacific Union International does

Pacific Union International is a California-based luxury residential real estate brokerage founded in 1975 and headquartered in San Francisco. The firm specializes in high-end residential transactions across California's most prestigious markets, including the San Francisco Bay Area, Silicon Valley, Los Angeles, and Wine Country, serving high-net-worth buyers, sellers, and developers of luxury, new-construction, and rental properties.

In December 2017, Pacific Union expanded its luxury footprint by acquiring Gibson International. In 2019, Pacific Union was itself acquired by Compass, the national residential brokerage, and has since operated as Compass's West Coast luxury division while retaining the Pacific Union brand. Through the Compass platform, the firm now leverages an agent-assisted, sales-led go-to-market model supplemented by a direct-to-consumer website and iOS/Android mobile applications, with access to Compass Exclusives (algorithm-matched off-market listings), Compass Concierge (seller-funded pre-sale home improvement financing due at closing), and the Compass Development Marketing Group (new-construction sales and marketing).

The business earns revenue primarily from real estate commissions on closed residential transactions, with rates not publicly disclosed. Distribution is delivered through a network of field agents across 17+ states plus Washington DC, supported by organic search, content marketing (neighborhood guides, market outlook research), and a Rocket Mortgage referral partnership for buyer pre-approval. No AI/ML research, patents, or proprietary models specific to Pacific Union are disclosed; the brand's economic moat rests on its established California luxury reputation, retained agent talent, and integration with Compass's national brokerage infrastructure.

Name

Pacific Union International

Legal name

Pacific Union International

Website

https://pacificunion.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1975

Operating status

Acquired

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Pacific Union International is a California luxury residential real estate brokerage founded in 1975, serving high-net-worth buyers, sellers, and developers in markets like San Francisco, Silicon Valley, Los Angeles, and Wine Country. It was acquired by Compass in 2019 and now operates as Compass's West Coast luxury division.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

San Francisco

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Real Estate Commission: Compass operates as a real estate brokerage earning commissions on residential property transactions. Agents represent buyers and sellers in transactions with commissions typically split between listing and selling brokers.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Pacific Union International is a California-based luxury residential real estate brokerage that represents buyers and sellers in high-end property transactions across San Francisco, Silicon Valley, Los Angeles, and Wine Country. Founded in 1975 and acquired by Compass in 2019, the firm pairs local agent representation with platform-level services including Compass Exclusives (off-market listings), Compass Concierge (pre-sale home improvement financing), and Compass Development Marketing Group (new development sales).

Product overview

The source data provided pertains to Compass (compass.com), a real estate brokerage platform, not Pacific Union International. No product information for Pacific Union International is available in the provided source data.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Pacific Union International Luxury Residential Real Estate Brokerage Full-service luxury residential real estate brokerage representing buyers and sellers in high-end property transactions across California's most prestigious markets including San Francisco Bay Area, Silicon Valley, Los Angeles, and Wine Country.
• Compass Exclusives Exclusive off-market listing program that uses algorithm-based matching on listing attributes, location, and prior search activity to surface relevant properties to buyers before they hit the public market.
• Compass Concierge Pre-sale home preparation service that covers the cost of home improvement services upfront to help sellers list faster and for more money, with fees or interest due at closing depending on state of residence.
• Compass Development Marketing Group New development marketing services for real estate developers seeking sales support for new construction and pre-construction projects.

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Rocket MortgageminorGTM or Marketing PartnerRocket Mortgage provides mortgage pre-approval and rate calculation services integrated into the Compass platform. Compass receives referral consideration for mortgage services while Rocket Mortgage gains exposure to Compass's home buyer audience.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves3 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Broad incumbents

• Redfin: Technology-focused residential brokerage competing with Compass/Pacific Union across price tiers, with less luxury specialization but significant California market share and a tech-driven buyer experience that pressures traditional luxury brokerages.
• Compass: Compass is Pacific Union's parent company and the broader brokerage platform encompassing Pacific Union's luxury operations. It is the same company post-2019 acquisition but serves as the broad-incumbent parent whose technology, Exclusives, and Concierge programs now power Pacific Union.
• Coldwell Banker: Long-established residential real estate franchise with strong luxury presence in California through its Coldwell Banker Global Luxury program. Competes with Pacific Union across price points but overlaps most directly in the luxury tier.
• Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices: National real estate franchise network with luxury division (Luxury Collection) that competes with Pacific Union in California and across other luxury markets in the US.

Direct peers

• Hilton & Hyland: Premier Beverly Hills-based luxury brokerage specializing in ultra-high-end estates and celebrity properties, directly competing with Pacific Union in the top tier of the LA luxury market.
• Engel & Völkers: European-origin luxury real estate franchise operating in California's premium markets, directly competing with Pacific Union in luxury segment with a strong international client focus.
• Sotheby's International Realty: Global luxury real estate brand affiliated with the Sotheby's auction house, operating a franchised luxury brokerage network that directly competes with Pacific Union in California luxury markets including LA, SF, and Wine Country.
• Douglas Elliman: Large residential real estate firm with significant California luxury presence, particularly in Southern California, directly competing with Pacific Union in coastal luxury markets.
• Aaron Kirman Group (Compass): Ultra-luxury real estate team within Compass operating in California, representing internal competition for Pacific Union's luxury agents and listings within the same parent company.
• The Agency: Boutique luxury real estate firm founded in Beverly Hills with a focus on high-net-worth clientele, directly competing with Pacific Union in Southern California's luxury segment and increasingly across other West Coast luxury markets.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks4 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A1 record

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Pacific Union International