HomeSmart vs Re/MAX
Flat-fee transaction model — keep nearly all commission vs 100%-commission franchise with monthly desk fees.
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
Re/MAX
$90,000
estimated net take-home
Feature matrix
| Feature | HomeSmart | Re/MAX |
|---|---|---|
| Commission model | flat-fee | 100-commission |
| Default split | 100/0 | 95/5 |
| Annual cap | — | — |
| Monthly fee | $25 | $2,000 |
| Per-transaction fee | $295 | — |
| Royalty fee | — | — |
| Training program | standard | standard |
| Lead program | agent-sourced | agent-sourced |
| Stock awards | — | — |
| Profit share | — | — |
| Sponsorship residual | — | — |
| Publicly traded | Private | RMAX |
| Approx agent count | 24,000 | 145,000 |
| Headquarters | Scottsdale, AZ | Denver, CO |
| Founded | $2,000 | $1,973 |
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 Re/MAX
Best for: High-volume producers who can absorb the monthly desk fee comfortably
Worst for: Newer agents with <12 transactions/year — the desk fee eats the margin
FAQ
What's the biggest difference between HomeSmart and Re/MAX?+
HomeSmart runs on a flat-fee model (100/0 split) while Re/MAX runs on a 100-commission model (95/5 split).
Which is better for new agents?+
Newer agents typically benefit more from extensive training + lead programs. HomeSmart: standard training, agent-sourced leads. Re/MAX: 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. Re/MAX 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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