After earning a Ph.D. at the University of Pennsylvania, throughout the 1970s Stephen Brobeck taught American Studies at Case Western Reserve University. During this period, he also initiated and help organize Cleveland Consumer Action, which resolved individual complaints through group action and published information for local consumers. From 1981 to 2018, he served as executive director and CEO of the Consumer Federation of America (CFA). Since then, he has continued his work with CFA as a senior fellow.
Brobeck has published both scholarly and popular books and articles. They include the first annotated bibliography of the consumer movement, two encyclopedias of this movement, commercially published books on product safety and banking, journal articles, and numerous reports on credit, savings, insurance, and real estate brokerage practices and related public policies. He has testified many times before Congress and regulatory agencies, served on dozens of advisory committees and boards including that of the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond, and has conceptualized and helped found several organizations. Brobeck has held professorial appointments at Cornell, Maryland, and Utah. His current research and advocacy focuses on the need for the residential real estate brokerage industry to become more transparent and price competitive.
The recent Florida lawsuit against Compass has focused new attention on “junk” fees charged by real estate brokers.[1] The lawsuit claimed that Compass Florida “committed unfair and deceptive practices by attempting to collect and actually collecting an
Download Release Washington, D.C. – A new report issued by the Consumer Policy Center today – “Junk” Fees Charged to Both Home Sellers and Buyers: An Overview – found that “junk” fees are routinely charged home buyers and sellers,
View Op-Ed Proponents of private listings argue they give sellers more options. I believe they’re taking the industry back to an era when consumers didn’t have enough information to know what their options were. Exploiting an ‘informational advantage’ A
Thank you for this opportunity to submit testimony in support of HB4964, which would promote informed seller choice and also help prevent restrictions on buyer choice. I am Stephen Brobeck, a senior fellow at the Consumer Policy Center (CPC)
View Article Joe Ventrone’s April 17 opinion piece comments on decoupling real estate commissions based on a recent Consumer Federation of America/Urban League report, on past research by me as a former CFA senior fellow, and on my more recent research as a senior
Washington, D.C. – Today the Consumer Policy Center (CPC) is releasing a new report revealing the increasing dominance of Compass Real Estate, their strategies for dominance, and issues that will affect its future. The study – Compass Expansion: New
In the past year, the residential real estate industry has focused an unusual amount of attention on residential real estate referral fees, especially their disclosure. In June, the Northwest MLS announced additions to its forms to provide
In the past year, the residential real estate industry has focused an unusual amount of attention on residential real estate referral fees, especially their disclosure. In June, the Northwest MLS announced additions to its forms to provide
Washington, D.C. – A 19-page report released today by the Consumer Policy Center (CPC) reveals that referral fees reinforce high commission rates and jeopardize the quality of consumer service. The report – Commission-Based Home-Referral Services: Consumer Impacts
Download Article Stephen Brobeck, Senior Fellow, Consumer Policy Center, responding to Cara Ameer’s 12/3/25 critique in Inman of the recent CPC report on post-settlement changes impacting home buyers I agree with much of what Cara Ameer said about the
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