CoStar Group reviews

2.7

33% would recommend to a friend

(3,019 total reviews)
avatar

Andrew C. Florance

31% approve of CEO

38% positive business outlook

CoStar Group has an employee rating of 2.7 out of 5 stars, based on 3,019 company reviews on Glassdoor which indicates that most employees have an average working experience there. The CoStar Group employee rating is 22% below average for employers within the Real Estate industry (3.5 stars).

Reviews by job title

3K reviews
1.0
Jun 17, 2008
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

The best reason I can think of to work for the CoStar Group is to get sound training in commercial real estate prior to joining a commercial real estate firm. CoStar Group has established an excellent training program due to the high turnover rate. They basically train for 3-5 weeks, then phase you onto the floor via a transition period. Here, you learn not only the detailed types of commercial real estste working with property records, you speak with brokers, owners, etc. Work there for one solid year and you will learn a tremendous amount about commercial real estate and earn a decent salary.

Cons

Andy and his band of Merry Men (& Women) are clueless when it comes to managing/ leading a company this size.

1.0
Aug 1, 2025
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

- Decent (but aging fast) photography suite w/ drone kit, company car. - Acceptable benefits package - Competitive salary

Cons

Don't be fooled, this is NOT an Architecture photography job in the sense that you will be going out photographing buildings, working with agents, etc. They'll fly you out to their headquarters for 2 weeks in Richmond, VA, talk to you nonstop about all the incredible properties you'll be working on and all the client experience you'll get, and introduce you to the suite of gear you'll be working with, only to then send you home to your assigned region and hand you a list of 50 parks and schools you'll need to take photos of before the end of the week. with zero permissions granted to do so beyond "Don't worry, it's legal" from the upper managers. I was completely beside myself feeling so frustrated for having fallen for it all. You'll do this for 50-60 hours a week, dealing with the public and taking pictures of complete strangers while being judged very critically on aesthetic abilities. You'll lose all interest in photography after spending 60 hours capturing your quota only to be hit with an unbelievably unfair QA score for your work where you can get 60s and 70s scores just for having submitted one too many shots that were just a few clicks over-contrast. It's mentally draining to do this week after week, month after month, especially during the winter months when your mental health is already at it's lowest. My wife and I went through 3 years of it and I will never forget just how many red flags were raised. And now there's wave after wave of layoffs while they thin out their photographers after overhiring back in 2023. If you are looking at this glassdoor page because a recruiter has reached out to you or you're interested in applying, run far away. Run away if you value your creative spark. The paycheck is NOT worth selling yourself out like this for a company that treats you like nothing more than a number on a spreadsheet.

1.0
Jun 25, 2025
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Salary, being able to create your own schedule a bit, no dress code for most who don't care that much, being able to fly drones daily.

Cons

Cameras in cars and being under constant surveillance a total negative stressor! Being threatened on the job because we are being made to take pictures of people without their consent in public places and stores and restaurants. Having to shoot and drive around all over all day to only come home to have to edit all night and then upload and rinse and repeat. Cringe worthy photography at its finest hired as an architectural photographer that was the position and I don't think in the year I worked there I shot anything architectural. Instead we were forced to shoot people walking out of grocery stores and Walgreens and walk inside big box stores taking video without permission super fun! Having our images critiqued by 3 people who clearly were beyond clueless about retouching or images or photography or what makes an image look good. I studied color theory for years with the best in the world who worked for Adobe and more and get told I don't know how to adjust an image of a park? lol

Viewing 304 - 306 of 3,019 Reviews

Glassdoor has 3,111 CoStar Group reviews submitted anonymously by CoStar Group employees. Read employee reviews and ratings on Glassdoor to decide if CoStar Group is right for you.