Coldwell Banker vs HomeSmart
Legacy franchise brand with strong relocation network vs Flat-fee transaction model — keep nearly all commission.
Reviewed by SofaBrain Editorial Team
Editorial Team · Last reviewed 2026-05-20
Net-income side by side
Computed at the realtor median: $120,000 annual GCI ÷ 12 transactions per year. Adjust the inputs on the live commission calculator.
Coldwell Banker
$72,000
estimated net take-home
HomeSmart
$116,160
estimated net take-home
Feature matrix
| Feature | Coldwell Banker | HomeSmart |
|---|---|---|
| Commission model | split | flat-fee |
| Default split | 60/40 | 100/0 |
| Annual cap | — | — |
| Monthly fee | — | $25 |
| Per-transaction fee | — | $295 |
| Royalty fee | — | — |
| Training program | extensive | standard |
| Lead program | brokerage-provided | agent-sourced |
| Stock awards | — | — |
| Profit share | — | — |
| Sponsorship residual | — | — |
| Publicly traded | HOUS | Private |
| Approx agent count | 100,000 | 24,000 |
| Headquarters | Madison, NJ (Anywhere Real Estate) | Scottsdale, AZ |
| Founded | $1,906 | $2,000 |
Best/worst fit for Coldwell Banker
Best for: New agents wanting structured training, mentorship, and relocation referrals
Worst for: Top producers seeking the highest possible split (60/40 entry is low)
Best/worst fit for HomeSmart
Best for: Highest-volume agents — flat fee structure means margin grows linearly with volume
Worst for: Agents with <10 transactions/year — Realty ONE / eXp likely cheaper
FAQ
What's the biggest difference between Coldwell Banker and HomeSmart?+
Coldwell Banker runs on a split model (60/40 split) while HomeSmart runs on a flat-fee model (100/0 split).
Which is better for new agents?+
Newer agents typically benefit more from extensive training + lead programs. Coldwell Banker: extensive training, brokerage-provided leads. HomeSmart: standard training, agent-sourced leads. The brokerage with more brokerage-provided leads + extensive training is usually the safer first move.
Which is better at high volume?+
At high volume (30+ transactions/year), cap-based and 100%-commission brokerages outperform split-based ones because the brokerage's share is capped while your output keeps growing. Neither is the cap/100%-commission option in this pair.
Does this comparison include lender/title splits?+
No. We model the brokerage's cut of your gross commission income (GCI) after the buyer-broker / seller-broker split between firms. Lender, title, and ancillary splits vary deal-to-deal and aren't modeled here.
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