Compass poaches Sotheby’s Rob Giem for OC expansion

Compass, which has been expanding rapidly in Los Angeles, is now making a play for Orange County.

The New York-based real estate startup hired Rob Giem to head the opening of its Newport Beach office next month, The Real Deal has learned. Its launch will mark the firm’s first move in Southern California outside of La La Land.

The roughly 3,100 square foot office will be located at 520 Newport Center Drive.

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Giem previously served as partner at HOM Sotheby’s International Realty in Newport Beach.

Giem sold a Laguna Beach estate sandwiched between two beaches last year for a record-shattering $45 million. He has maintained an average sales price, per transaction, of about $10 million since 2007, and has represented one or both sides in every sale over $30 million in Orange County in which brokers were participatory, Compass said.