What VDB Compass does

VDB Compass is a luxury real estate sales team operating within the Compass brokerage network, headquartered in Bellevue, Washington, and serving the greater Seattle, Eastside, and Greater Eastside markets (Bellevue, Clyde Hill, Medina, Kirkland, Redmond, Woodinville, Issaquah, Sammamish). Founded in its current Compass-affiliated form in 2018 by Mark von der Burg, the team provides full-service buyer and seller representation for premier residential properties including waterfront estates, equestrian manors, urban penthouses, and luxury homes. The team has accumulated over $3 billion in cumulative career sales volume and ranks among the Top 100 Real Estate Teams Nationwide and Top 100 Agents at Compass. Customer segments include high-net-worth luxury buyers and sellers (primary), first-time home buyers, and international/relocation clients with cross-border property interests.

The product portfolio is structured as a core brokerage service wrapped in a marketing and technology stack. Core products are buyer representation, seller representation, and a self-serve Home Search portal on vdbcompass.com. Add-on modules include Compass Concierge (deferred-payment home improvement financing via Notable Finance), a Home Valuation CMA tool, a Mortgage Calculator, professional Photography and Videography Services, 3D Home Tours, and a coordinated Marketing Services offering that spans print, digital, social, email outreach, and luxury magazine placements. Sub-brands include The Post newsletter and a content Blog. Underlying technology is the Compass platform — encompassing property listings, marketing tools, and brokerage infrastructure — augmented by 3D virtual tour technology, HD professional photo/video production, and AI-generated content for property descriptions, marketing copy, automated inquiry responses, and property recommendations.

The business model is commission-based on completed transactions, with rates typically ranging from 2.5% to 6% of transaction value and splits between buyer's and seller's agents; exact rates are negotiated individually. Revenue streams include Buyer Representation, Seller Representation, and Compass Concierge fees collected at closing, listing agreement termination, or 12 months post-engagement. The go-to-market motion is enterprise-style field sales via referral-driven personalized client service, leveraging the founder's 30+ year reputation and relationships. Marketing channels span the website, The Post newsletter, Instagram, professional photo/video distribution, 3D tours, and luxury publications. Ownership is founder-led under Compass as parent brokerage; no external institutional investment is indicated.

Name

VDB Compass

Legal name

VDB Compass

Website

https://vdbcompass.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

VDB Compass is a Bellevue, WA-based luxury real estate team affiliated with Compass, providing full-service buyer and seller representation for premier properties across the greater Seattle and Eastside markets. Led by founder Mark von der Burg, the team has achieved over $3B in cumulative sales and Top 100 nationwide ranking, serving high-net-worth individuals, first-time buyers, and relocation clients.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Bellevue

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, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Buyer Representation: Commission-based representation for home buyers, typically earning a percentage of the purchase price upon successful transaction completion.
2. Seller Representation: Commission-based representation for home sellers, earning a percentage upon successful sale of the property.
3. Compass Concierge: Home improvement financing service where Compass covers upfront costs for staging, flooring, painting, and other improvements. Fees are paid when the home sells, the listing agreement is terminated, or 12 months pass from Concierge start date. Service provided through Notable Finance partnership.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

VDB Compass is a luxury real estate team that provides buyer and seller representation for premier properties in the greater Seattle, Bellevue, and Eastside Washington markets. The team delivers full-service brokerage including property marketing with professional photography, cinematic videography, and 3D home tours, complemented by the Compass Concierge home improvement financing program to help sellers prepare homes for market.

Product overview

VDB Compass is a luxury real estate team affiliated with Compass operating in the Seattle/Bellevue, WA area. The company offers a unified service platform combining buyer and seller representation with an ecosystem of marketing and technology add-ons. Core services include buyer representation, seller representation, and a property search portal. The product portfolio extends through add-on modules including Compass Concierge (home improvement financing), Home Valuation (CMA tool), Mortgage Calculator (financial planning), Photography Services, Videography Services, and 3D Home Tours. Marketing support is provided through coordinated print/digital campaigns and The Post newsletter. The company positions itself as a full-service luxury real estate brokerage with $3B+ in total sales and recognition as a Top 100 team nationwide.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Buyer Representation Full-service real estate agent representation guiding buyers through property identification, offer formulation, negotiation strategy, vendor referrals, and closing for luxury homes, waterfront estates, equestrian properties, and urban penthouses in the greater Seattle area.
• Seller Representation Full-service real estate agent representation for sellers, including tailored pricing recommendations, contractor referrals, project management, professional marketing campaigns, and closing support for premier properties across the Seattle, Eastside, and Greater Eastside markets.
• Home Search Portal Online property search portal at vdbcompass.com that allows buyers to browse real estate listings in the Seattle and Bellevue area with filtering by price, property type, bedrooms, and location.
• Compass Concierge Home improvement financing program provided through Notable Finance, LLC (NMLS# 1824748) that covers upfront costs for staging, flooring, painting, and renovations with payment deferred until closing, the listing agreement is terminated, or 12 months from the Concierge start date, designed to help sellers prepare homes for market.
• Professional Photography Services Professional HD photography services delivered by photographers whose work has appeared in leading national publications and galleries, distributed across syndicated sites and social media for luxury property marketing.
• Professional Videography Services Cinematic HD videography production with thematic music for luxury property marketing, capturing homes for online presentation and promotional distribution.
• 3D Home Tours Immersive 3D virtual tour technology that allows prospective luxury buyers to experience properties online with a true-to-life walkthrough, distributed across listings and marketing channels.
• Marketing Services Coordinated marketing approach combining print and digital campaigns, social media outreach, email marketing, and luxury magazine placements to target high-net-worth buyers for premier properties.
• Home Valuation Comparative Market Analysis (CMA) tool providing detailed property valuations and pricing strategy recommendations to help prospective sellers evaluate their homes.
• Mortgage Calculator Interactive financial calculator that estimates monthly mortgage payments including principal, interest, taxes, insurance, HOA, and PMI to support buyers' affordability assessments.

Quantifiable outcome

• Homes can sell in 5 days for well over asking price based on client testimonials
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability4 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• CompasscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2018VDB Compass is a team of real estate agents affiliated with Compass, a licensed real estate broker. Compass provides the platform, technology, and brokerage infrastructure while VDB Compass operates as a high-performing team within the Compass network. Mark von der Burg joined Compass in 2018 as the #1 Founding Broker in Washington state.
• Notable Finance (Compass Concierge)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCompass Concierge program, provided through Notable Finance, LLC (NMLS# 1824748), offers home improvement financing for sellers. Funds are provided to cover staging, flooring, painting, and other services with zero payment due until closing. Concierge Capital loans help sellers prepare homes for market without upfront costs.
• Northwest Multiple Listing Service (NWMLS)coreTechnology or IntegrationVDB Compass listings are distributed through the Northwest Multiple Listing Service, providing access to comprehensive property data and wide distribution to regional real estate professionals and buyers.
• Coldwell Banker BainminorOthersPrior to joining Compass in 2018, Mark von der Burg was associated with Coldwell Banker Bain from 2015-2018. This is a historical partnership/work history rather than an active alliance.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• The Modlin Group: Luxury Compass-affiliated real estate team in the greater Seattle area. Directly comparable as a fellow Compass team operating in the same Seattle/Eastside geography with luxury-segment specialization, full-service representation, and similar premium marketing capabilities.
• Coldwell Banker Bain: Major Pacific Northwest residential brokerage and Mark von der Burg's prior affiliation (2015–2018). Directly comparable as a Seattle/Bellevue-focused full-service luxury brokerage serving the same buyer and seller segments with similar commission-based representation services.
• Windermere Real Estate: Large Pacific Northwest residential brokerage with deep Seattle/Eastside market presence. Directly comparable as a regional full-service brokerage serving the same geographic markets, with overlapping luxury-segment offerings and similar commission-based revenue model.
• Realogics Sotheby's International Realty: Luxury Seattle/Bellevue brokerage affiliated with Sotheby's International Realty. Directly comparable as a luxury-focused Pacific Northwest residential brokerage competing for the same high-net-worth buyer and seller pool with similar full-service representation and premium marketing.

Emerging players

• Flyhomes: Seattle-based tech-enabled home buying platform. Comparable as a Seattle-area residential real estate company serving similar buyer segments, but differentiated by a cash-offer/tech-driven model rather than traditional full-service luxury representation.

Broad incumbents

• Compass: National real estate brokerage platform and parent of VDB Compass. Directly comparable as it provides the same luxury-focused brokerage infrastructure, technology, and Concierge program that VDB Compass operates within, but at national scale rather than as a single team.
• Sotheby's International Realty: Global luxury real estate network with affiliate brokerages in the Pacific Northwest. Comparable as a national/international luxury brokerage brand competing for the same high-net-worth clients, though operating through affiliates rather than as a single integrated team like VDB Compass.
• Redfin: Tech-enabled national residential brokerage with significant Seattle market presence. Comparable as a Seattle-area brokerage serving residential buyers and sellers, though differentiated by technology-led, lower-commission model versus VDB Compass's full-service luxury positioning.
• Engel & Völkers: International luxury-focused real estate franchise with Pacific Northwest offices. Comparable as a premium-brand brokerage targeting high-net-worth buyers and sellers of luxury properties, with a similar marketing-led value proposition and commission-based representation model.

Regional players

• John L. Scott Real Estate: Long-established Pacific Northwest residential brokerage headquartered in the region. Comparable as a regional full-service broker with strong Seattle/Eastside presence serving similar buyer/seller segments, though with a broader mid-market positioning than VDB Compass's luxury focus.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/vdbcompass
• Facebookfacebook.com/vdbcompass

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about VDB Compass