Compass, the largest U.S. residential real estate broker, is set to buy Anywhere Real Estate in a deal valued at $4.2 billion, adding heft at a time when home sales are softening as buyers remain pres...

The merger, which has the approval of each companies’ board of directors, will boost Compass' network of real estate agents around the globe from about 40,000 to about 340,000, Compass said.