Re/MAX vs Sotheby's International Realty
100%-commission franchise with monthly desk fees 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.
Re/MAX
$90,000
estimated net take-home
Sotheby's International Realty
$72,000
estimated net take-home
Feature matrix
| Feature | Re/MAX | Sotheby's |
|---|---|---|
| Commission model | 100-commission | split |
| Default split | 95/5 | 60/40 |
| Annual cap | — | — |
| Monthly fee | $2,000 | — |
| Per-transaction fee | — | — |
| Royalty fee | — | — |
| Training program | standard | extensive |
| Lead program | agent-sourced | optional |
| Stock awards | — | — |
| Profit share | — | — |
| Sponsorship residual | — | — |
| Publicly traded | RMAX | HOUS |
| Approx agent count | 145,000 | 26,000 |
| Headquarters | Denver, CO | Madison, NJ |
| Founded | $1,973 | $1,976 |
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
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 Re/MAX and Sotheby's International Realty?+
Re/MAX runs on a 100-commission model (95/5 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. Re/MAX: 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. 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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