M&A
The combined company would support 180,000-plus agents across 120 countries, with RE/MAX and Motto Mortgage continuing to operate under their existing franchise models.
RE/MAX and Motto Mortgage will continue to operate under their existing brands and franchise models. Existing franchise agreements are not renegotiated as a result of an ownership transfer of the parent company. New agreements signed after the close may differ in terms — buyers should compare the current FDD carefully.
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The deal is expected to close in the second half of 2026, subject to shareholder approval at both companies and customary regulatory clearance.
Real has secured a $550 million financing commitment from Morgan Stanley and Apollo Global Funding to refinance RE/MAX Holdings' existing debt and to fund the cash portion of the transaction consideration.
Real CEO Tamir Poleg will lead the combined entity. RE/MAX Holdings CEO Erik Carlson stated the combination is designed to give franchisees and agents 'greater choice, higher productivity and expanded support.'
On April 27, 2026, The Real Brokerage Inc. and RE/MAX Holdings announced an $880 million transaction in which Real will acquire RE/MAX Holdings, combining the two firms into what they describe as a leading technology-enabled global real-estate platform.[1][2]
The combined company would support more than 180,000 agents across more than 120 countries and territories — including more than 100,000 in the US and Canada — pairing RE/MAX's approximately 145,000-agent franchise network with Real's existing base of more than 33,000 agents.[2] Real CEO Tamir Poleg will lead the new entity. RE/MAX Holdings CEO Erik Carlson said the combination is designed to give franchisees and agents 'greater choice, higher productivity and expanded support.'[1]
Under the agreement, RE/MAX and Motto Mortgage will continue to operate under their existing brands and franchise models, while Real will remain an owned-brokerage brand. The structure preserves the franchise-system architecture that RE/MAX has used for decades — current franchisees would continue to operate under their existing agreements, and new franchise agreements signed after the close would continue to be issued under the RE/MAX or Motto Mortgage banners.[3]
The transaction is expected to close in the second half of 2026, subject to customary closing conditions, regulatory approvals, and approval by each company's shareholders. Real has secured a $550 million financing commitment from Morgan Stanley Senior Funding and Apollo Global Funding to refinance RE/MAX Holdings' existing debt and to fund the cash portion of the transaction consideration.[2]
The deal is the third major real-estate brokerage consolidation in 13 months, following the Rocket-Redfin and Compass-Anywhere transactions that have reshaped the upper tier of the US residential brokerage market in 2025 and early 2026.
For current and prospective RE/MAX franchisees, the deal preserves the brand structure but changes the parent-company control environment in meaningful ways.
Franchise model continuity: The most important fact for current RE/MAX operators is that the brand and franchise model are explicitly being retained, not consolidated into Real's owned-brokerage structure. Existing franchise agreements remain in force, and the operating model — agent splits, franchise fees, brand standards — does not automatically change as a result of the ownership transfer.
Technology integration as both opportunity and risk: Real's product roadmap is built around a proprietary technology stack designed to centralize agent transactions, payments, and back-office operations. Post-close, RE/MAX franchisees can expect substantial pressure to adopt elements of that technology — likely as a requirement rather than an option. Buyers evaluating a RE/MAX franchise in 2026 should ask explicitly which technology mandates are likely to follow the close, and whether transition costs will be borne by the franchisor or by the franchisee.
Motto Mortgage as a separate diligence track: Motto Mortgage, a RE/MAX-affiliated mortgage franchise concept, will continue under its existing brand. Buyers evaluating a Motto franchise should treat the brand's path post-close as distinct from the core RE/MAX brokerage franchise — Real's strategic priorities for the residential brokerage are unlikely to map neatly onto a mortgage franchise concept.
Royalty and fee structure visibility: Buyers should request the most current RE/MAX FDD and confirm that the Item 5 (initial fees) and Item 6 (ongoing fees) disclosures reflect the actual fee structure expected to apply after the close. If the FDD pre-dates the deal announcement, an amendment may be required before any new agreement is signed.
Industry consolidation context: Three major brokerage consolidations in 13 months — Rocket-Redfin, Compass-Anywhere, and now Real-RE/MAX — point toward a more concentrated upper tier of the US residential brokerage market. For franchise buyers, the practical effect is that the competitive set within most metros is contracting, which tends to reduce price competition for franchisees but increases franchisor leverage in fee and standards negotiations.
Three milestones will determine the deal's actual impact on RE/MAX franchisees and Motto Mortgage operators.
The first is shareholder approval at both companies. RE/MAX Holdings' public shareholders and Real's investor base will both vote on the transaction; either could meaningfully alter terms or pricing if the vote is contested.
The second is regulatory approval. A combined platform of more than 180,000 agents in a market that has just seen Rocket-Redfin and Compass-Anywhere deals close in the same 13-month window will draw heightened antitrust scrutiny, particularly in metros where the combined network share is highest.
The third — and the one most directly relevant to franchisees — is the post-close integration plan. Watch the first FDD amendment issued after the close for changes to Item 6 fee structures, Item 11 franchisor obligations, and Item 12 territory provisions. Those three items typically reveal the practical operating-model changes that follow any major franchisor ownership transfer.
For prospective buyers, the prudent stance is to wait. Any FDD currently in circulation pre-dates the deal close and may not reflect the actual operating environment a new franchisee will enter. Buyers should request the post-close FDD before committing capital, and confirm directly with current franchisees whether the technology and fee terms presented match the disclosures.