Before getting too far into 2026, it felt appropriate to pause and reflect on a quieter but meaningful part of the work we did in 2025: multifamily referrals.

The Los Angeles multifamily market has not been easy. Transaction volume slowed, underwriting tightened, and sellers became more cautious about timing, pricing, and execution. In that environment, multifamily often entered conversations gradually, sometimes as a long-term consideration rather than an immediate decision.

When it did, the path forward was rarely simple.

When Multifamily Becomes Part of a Broader Client Conversation

For many agents, multifamily comes up organically. A client asks about selling an apartment building they have owned for decades. A family trust begins evaluating options. A long-term hold no longer aligns with estate planning, debt maturity, or portfolio goals.

In those moments, collaboration matters.

Our role in referral situations is straightforward. We are not there to replace relationships or step between an agent and their client. We are there to add clarity, experience, and execution in a segment of the market that has become increasingly complex.

Multifamily today requires more than exposure. It requires disciplined pricing, thoughtful positioning, and access to buyers who are still active and capable of closing. That combination is where early collaboration tends to make the biggest difference.

6 Los Angeles Multifamily Referrals Closed in 2025

In 2025, we closed 6 Los Angeles multifamily referral transactions from Compass agents alone. Over the past several years, that number extends into the dozens across Los Angeles.

Each transaction was different. Some involved longtime ownership and multiple decision-makers. Others required navigating shifting pricing expectations, financing constraints, or regulatory considerations. What they shared was the same objective: protect the client relationship while bringing in specialized support early enough to avoid friction later.

The result was cleaner execution, better alignment around pricing and timing, and escrows that reflected well on everyone involved.

Why Early Collaboration Matters in Multifamily

Multifamily transactions often fail or stall long before a listing hits the market. Misaligned expectations, unclear pricing logic, or uncertainty around buyer depth can create problems that are difficult to unwind once a property is publicly exposed.

A short conversation early in the process tends to solve more than months of repositioning later.

For agents, that early alignment helps set expectations clearly. For clients, it provides context and realism without pressure. And for the transaction itself, it creates a smoother path from discussion to execution.

A Shared Objective: Protect the Relationship and Execute Well

Every referral we work on is approached with the same mindset. The goal is not volume. The goal is execution that reflects well on the referring agent and serves the client’s best interests.

That means being honest about pricing. It means being realistic about timing. And it means knowing when the market is receptive and when patience is the better strategy.

In a market like Los Angeles, where multifamily is nuanced and often misunderstood, that discipline matters.

Looking Ahead

As conversations continue into 2026, multifamily will remain part of broader planning discussions for many clients. When it does, having the right support early can make the difference between a drawn-out process and a clean result.

If you’d like to see examples of how those collaborations have played out, click here to view a selection of recent closed transactions below.