Residential broker Scott Segall has returned to the Beverly Hills office of Douglas Elliman after a year-long stint at Compass.
Segall told The Real Deal he joined Compass because he was “lured away with a potential opportunity” but ultimately decided Douglas Elliman was a “better fit.”
“To be honest, I really feel more at home here, and feeling positive and happy is what brings great business,” he said. “I feel valued here, and that is a huge draw for me.”
Stephen Kotler, the chief revenue officer of Douglas Elliman who is heading its L.A. expansion, said he didn’t formally push to recruit Segall, but the two remained close over the year he was at Compass.
“We were talking more and more and Scott is like family — he’s looked at like a leader here,” Kotler said, while Segall described the hiring process as “a mutual desire to work together again.”
When Segall expressed interest in returning, he flew out to New York to meet with Elliman CEO Dottie Herman.
“They have a close relationship, so…that was the closer,” Kotler said.
Segall launched his career in commercial real estate in 1993 and transitioned into residential real estate more than 15 years ago. His areas of expertise are West Hollywood, the Sunset Strip and Beverly Hills. His current focus is mid-market luxury homes throughout Los Angeles ranging from $1 million to $10 million.
Compass has been on a hiring spree in Los Angeles, nabbing the likes of Kofi Nartey from the Agency; Linda and Brent Chang from Coldwell Banker; and Eastside duo Kurt Wisner and Courtney Smith from Nourmand and Associates. But Segall is not the first to return to a previous company after trying out Compass. In September, three agents — Vera Nelson, Peggy Bray and Nicole Bray — who had left Coldwell Banker for Compass returned after eight months. Annie Challis, who left Keller Williams for Compass, also recently joined Coldwell Banker.