Veteran North Shore broker Peter Cummins has left @properties Christie’s International Real Estate in Winnetka for Baird & Warner, where he will serve as team lead of Cummins Advisors.
In announcing Cummins’ move, Baird & Warner noted the recent $1.6 billion deal by @properties’ parent company, Compass Inc., to acquire Anywhere Real Estate Inc.
“In today’s marketplace, corporate-owned brokerages control much of the market, which invites unfair practices and leaves consumers at a disadvantage,” said Cummins. “I’ve always believed in fair housing and an open market, and I’ve been outspoken in my opposition to practices like private office-exclusive listings, which I find fundamentally at odds with transparency.”
Compass is a leading proponent of private listings, and its acquisition of Anywhere, which owns major U.S. brokerages CENTURY 21, Coldwell Banker and Better Homes and Gardens, is expected in increase the number of homes listed without being put on an MLS.
Baird & Warner said it “has been a vocal proponent for fair housing and transparency in the industry” and has advocated for Clear Cooperation, the National Association of REALTORS® policy that requires a home to be put on the MLS within one business day of being listed publicly.
“I work on Main Street, not Wall Street, and what drew me to Baird & Warner was its independence, its investment in growth and its culture of professionalism,” Cummins said. “Despite having been around since 1855, Baird & Warner has never been more agile and is positioning itself more like a startup, especially when it comes to opportunities to grow on the North Shore. That’s the kind of company and the kind of story I want to be part of.”
With more than 20 years of residential real estate experience, Cummins has over $500 million in transaction volume under his belt. An Evanston native, he spent 16 years at @properties before joining Baird & Warner. Cummins has also served as village manager of Glencoe and Lake Bluff and assistant city manager of Lake Forest.
“Peter is a highly respected figure in the industry whose experience and perspective will be invaluable as we expand our presence on the North Shore,” said David Bailey, senior vice president and general sales manager at Baird & Warner. “He’s passionate about doing what’s right for clients, for agents and for the market as a whole. His decision to join Baird & Warner is a testament to our culture of independence, and we’re thrilled to welcome him to the team, along with other talent he brings as part of Cummins Advisors.”