Kathy Mehringer's Profile Photo

Kathy Mehringer

Broker of Record | Managing Director of Compliance and Risk Management | DRE#: 00625769
kathy@compass.com
M: 310-498-9128
O: 310-498-9128

Awards

Conejo Valley Association of REALTORS®:  REALTOR® of the Year 2003
California Association of REALTORS®:        Director for Life 2013
San Diego Associations of REALTORS®:      Mega South Premier Broker of the Year 

Education

Licensed California  Real Estate Broker, 1994  - DRE #00625769 

Certified Mediator, Strauss Institute for Dispute Resolution in association with the Pepperdine School of Law

Shortsale Foreclosoure Resource ("SFR")

Certified Distressed Property Expert ("CDPE")

At Home With Diversity ("AHWD")

Certified Real Estate Brokerage Manager ("CRB')

California Association of REALTORS® Professional Standards Trainer
About Kathy

Born and raised in Southern California, Kathy Mehringer is a Real Estate Broker and Mediator certified through the Strauss Institute for Dispute Resolution in association with the Pepperdine University School of Law.  She is a Court Qualified Expert Witness, an Arbitrator for the California Association of Realtors (C.A.R.) and holds the designations of Certified Real Estate Brokerage Manager (CRB), Shortsale  Foreclosure Resource (SFR) , Certified Distressed Property Expert (CDPE) and At Home With Diversity (AHWD). 

Mehringer began her  management career in 1988 and has managed multiple branch offices for high profile companies including Fred Sands Realtors®, John Douglas Company and Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage, Westlake Village and Beverly Hills.  As the former  Vice President and Regional Manager for Fred Sands Kathy developed and supervised the company's training program and was the legal liaison responsible for forms and policy development.

Kathy Mehringer joined Compass in December of 2015 where she later  assumed the role of Broker of Record and Director of Risk Management for the Southern California, Northern California and San Diego regions.  Her focus is on expansion, compliance supervision, educational outreach, risk management, professionalism, claims/dispute resolution and contract and transactional education.

Kathy has been a member of  the California Association of Realtors® ("C.A.R.") since 1977 and currently serves as a State Director.  Over the years, she has held multiple prominent committee positions,  most notably as chair and vice chair of the Standard Forms Advisory Committee.  The committee is charged with overseeing the extensive library of forms utilized by agents throughout the state. Kathy also served on the Residential Purchase Agreement Study Group which was instrumental in providing direction for the past five revisions of the RPA currently used statewide prior to December 2021.  In 2003  she was presented with the Realtor® of the Year award from Conejo Valley Association of Realtors® and in 2013 received one of C.A.R.’s highest honors  when she was elected “Director for Life”. Kathy’s service to the industry over the years is broad in scope and includes participation including but not limited to the following committees and leadership positions:

California Association of REALTORS® ("C.A.R.")

Defense Strategy Committee:        Chair                                     2022 / 2023 / 2025

Defense Strategy Committee:        Member                                 2012-2014

Fair Housing Policy:                      Regional Representative          2022

Transaction & Regulatory:             Member                                 2022

Transaction & Regulatory:              Licensing Issues Chair.             2023

Legal Affairs Forum:                     Vice Chair / Chair                   2012 / 2013

Legal Action Fund:                       Member                                  2004-2008 / 2016-2021 

Federal Issues:                             Vice Chair / Chair                    2009 / 2010

Liaison and Executive Committee:                                                2012 / 2015

Distressed Property Task Force:      Member                                 2011 / 2012

Buyer Representation Task Force:   Member                                 2022

Legal Action Fund Trustee             Vice Chair                              2024

Legal Action Fund Trustee.            Member                                  2024 - 2029

National Association of REALTORS® ("NAR")

Director:                                                                                      2010 - 2014

Legal Action Committee:                     Member                            2022 - 2024

Risk Management Committee:              Member                           2019-2021 / 2025

San Diego Association of REALTORS® ("SDAR")

Risk Management Committee:             Member                            2018-2025

Risk Management Committee:             Vice Chair/Chair               2008/2009

Risk Management Committee:             Member                            2007

Multiple Listing Service (MLS):              Member                            2016-2018

Southland Regional Association of REALTORS® ("SRAR")

Risk Management Committee:                Chair                                2022

Risk Management Committee.                Founding Member             2008-2025

Risk Management Committee                Vice Chair                         2024

Ethics & Arbitration Committee:             Member                            2022 - 2024 -2025

Procuring Cause Task Force:                   Member                           2021

Professional Standards:                           Member                           2007, 2009, 2010

Ethics and Arbitration Policy Committee: Chair                                2007

Conejo Valley Association of REALTORS® ("CVAR")

President Conejo Valley Association of Realtors® 2000

Grievance Committee:                             Member                            1992-1997

Board of Directors:                                  Director                             1997-2001

Greivance Committee:                             Chair                                 2001-2005

Asset and Building Management:             Member                             2004-2007

California Regional Multiple Listing Service ("CRMLS")

Board of Directors                                    Member                            2023-2025

Throughout her career, Kathy has been passionate in her quest to promote education and professionalism within the industry. As a former instructor for the Graduate Realtor® Institute (GRI) she taught Agency Law and Ethics.  During the financial meltdown in 2007 – 2012 Kathy provided Short Sale Risk Management seminars throughout the Western United States, specifically California, Arizona, Colorado, Utah, and Hawaii. 

She established working relationships with senior management from major lending institutions, government sponsored enterprises and law enforcement agencies and routinely moderated and participated in lender panels with the goal of building a greater understanding and partnership between  lending institutions, regulators and the real estate community. 

She is a respected advocate for the prevention of mortgage fraud and has conducted Fraud Prevention and other real estate related seminars for/with Lenders, Freddie Mac, the Department of Real Estate, the California State Bar Association, the Women’s Council of Realtors®,   Professional Standards Committees and law enforcement including the FBI, IRS and local enforcement agencies.     

In addition to her ongoing  industry  contributions  Kathy is an ardent supporter of America’s Veterans.   She demonstrates her gratitude for their sacrifice through charitable contributions to Wounded Warrior Project, Disabled American Veterans, Paralyzed Veterans of America, and the Tunnel 2 Towers Foundation.  In 2003 Kathy founded and maintained a Memorial Fund for the son of Southern California resident and Iraq war combat causality, Sergeant Michael Bitz, United States Marine Corps.    


Testimonials

"I often find myself saying, thanks to Kathy, ‘wow’– she already covered that, told me about this and brainstormed on the right language to use. As any Realtor® knows there is a mountain of forms used in real estate transactions AND they are constantly changing. If you are not locked and loaded with the right information it is just a matter of time before you are facing challenges instead of selling homes. 

Kathy has had my back for over a decade. As one of the collaborators on many of the CAR forms she is the ultimate authority. Having her on my team is like having my own expert real estate consultant.

Not only is Kathy a master of the CAR forms she is a thoughtful strategist, helping me provide the best transactional advice to my clients while allowing me to sleep better at night!”

~Jeffrey Saad 

“It is so reassuring to have someone with such a stellar reputation as Kathy Mehringer as the Broker of Record for Compass.  When I heard that she was hired as the Regional Director of Risk Management at Compass, I knew this company did their research and recruited the best of the best. 

As an agent, it is very important to be versed, not only with changes to the contracts and other forms, but also to be made aware of actual cases that impact the real estate industry in general. 

Even though I have over twenty years of experience in this business, I learn something every time I attend her seminars. Kathy is a walking real estate contract encyclopedia. She is our go-to resource with those tough questions that sometimes come up in our transactions. This in itself is invaluable.”

~Laura Pardini  

“I can always count on Kathy's sage advice when it comes to discussing troubling situations. She understands real estate law and is able to apply it in a practical manner. Most importantly, Kathy is kind, empathetic, understanding and very easy to talk to. She knows the rhythm of real estate and how to explain things to agents. Her knowledge of contracts is second to none.  The world of real estate is becoming increasingly complicated and Kathy is best resource the agents at Compass have for remaining ahead of the curve when it comes to changing forms, laws, policies, practices and staying out of trouble.”

-Russell Grether

"All you need to do is read Kathy Mehringer’s “About Kathy”, and review her Awards, Education, and the many Local, Regional, and National Committees she has served on to know she is a consummate professional.

My relationship with Kathy goes back to my previous brokerage in 2009. As a new agent, the best advice anyone gave me was, “When you have the opportunity to listen or meet with Kathy Mehringer, take advantage of it”. To this day I still take advantage of Kathy’s knowledge whether it be through a webinar, in-person presentation, or her “Kickin’ it with Kathy” weekly newsletter.

Compass is so fortunate to have Kathy as the Broker of Record for California. Kathy has put together a stellar team of knowledgeable risk management professionals who keep Compass agents informed of new DRE policies and the best real estate practices for Realtors.

Since the first day we met, Kathy has been a valued mentor to me. It is reassuring to know Kathy and her team of experts are available to answer questions and guide me in the right direction when I need it, in order to provide my clients with the highest level of service.

Thank you Kathy for all you do for your Compass agents. It is obvious that you love what you do! And you are so good at it!"

~Sofie Langhorne


"What a treat to read your comments and your story in the San Diego Association of Realtors® Newsletter! My first connection with you was as a new member of SDAR Professional Standards over 12 years ago.  You conducted training and appeared with CB members at hearings.  You were so impressive in your stance on professionalism, risk management, and continued learning.

When I learned you were leaving CB I immediately reached out to the GM of the company I was with at the time and told him he needed to find out what you wanted and give it to you.  Don’t know if he ever tried, but I attempted to explain your reach and influence throughout real estate in hopes of being on the same team.

In hindsight, you ended up in a better place.  And, despite my not being with Compass, I still feel like we are on the same team. Despite your diminutive size, you carve a large path in the real estate world and we are blessed to have your insight and sharing.

As we close out 2021 I share my wish for you to have a most incredible 2022 and many more years to follow.  Thanks for being you. Very Respectfully."

~Dan Hill