HomeSmart vs The Real Brokerage
Flat-fee transaction model — keep nearly all commission vs Tech + AI-forward brokerage with stock + revenue share.
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.
HomeSmart
$116,160
estimated net take-home
The Real Brokerage
$106,920
estimated net take-home
Feature matrix
| Feature | HomeSmart | Real |
|---|---|---|
| Commission model | flat-fee | cap |
| Default split | 100/0 | 85/15 |
| Annual cap | — | $12,000 |
| Monthly fee | $25 | $30 |
| Per-transaction fee | $295 | $30 |
| Royalty fee | — | — |
| Training program | standard | standard |
| Lead program | agent-sourced | agent-sourced |
| Stock awards | — | ✓ |
| Profit share | — | — |
| Sponsorship residual | — | ✓ |
| Publicly traded | Private | REAX |
| Approx agent count | 24,000 | 28,000 |
| Headquarters | Scottsdale, AZ | Toronto, ON / Miami, FL |
| Founded | $2,000 | $2,014 |
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
Best/worst fit for Real
Best for: Agents who want a lower cap than eXp + AI-forward tech + stock awards
Worst for: Agents needing local office presence (Real is fully virtual)
FAQ
What's the biggest difference between HomeSmart and The Real Brokerage?+
HomeSmart runs on a flat-fee model (100/0 split) while The Real Brokerage runs on a cap model (85/15 split, $12,000 cap). One offers stock awards; the other does not.
Which is better for new agents?+
Newer agents typically benefit more from extensive training + lead programs. HomeSmart: standard training, agent-sourced leads. The Real Brokerage: 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. The Real Brokerage 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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