HomeSmart vs Sotheby's International Realty
Flat-fee transaction model — keep nearly all commission vs Luxury-focused global brand under Anywhere Real Estate.
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
Sotheby's International Realty
$72,000
estimated net take-home
Feature matrix
| Feature | HomeSmart | Sotheby's |
|---|---|---|
| Commission model | flat-fee | split |
| Default split | 100/0 | 60/40 |
| Annual cap | — | — |
| Monthly fee | $25 | — |
| Per-transaction fee | $295 | — |
| Royalty fee | — | — |
| Training program | standard | extensive |
| Lead program | agent-sourced | optional |
| Stock awards | — | — |
| Profit share | — | — |
| Sponsorship residual | — | — |
| Publicly traded | Private | HOUS |
| Approx agent count | 24,000 | 26,000 |
| Headquarters | Scottsdale, AZ | Madison, NJ |
| Founded | $2,000 | $1,976 |
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 Sotheby's
Best for: Luxury-segment agents in major metros; global referral network
Worst for: Entry-level / sub-$500K market agents — brand requires luxury inventory
FAQ
What's the biggest difference between HomeSmart and Sotheby's International Realty?+
HomeSmart runs on a flat-fee model (100/0 split) while Sotheby's International Realty runs on a split model (60/40 split).
Which is better for new agents?+
Newer agents typically benefit more from extensive training + lead programs. HomeSmart: standard training, agent-sourced leads. Sotheby's International Realty: extensive training, optional 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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