{{short description|Real estate brokerage company}} {{Infobox company | name = RE/MAX Holdings, Inc. | logo = Remax 2025.svg | logo_size = 200px | type = Public | image = Remax HQ, Shanahan's Crop.jpg | image_size = 200px | image_caption = RE/MAX Headquarters in the Denver Technological Center. | traded_as = {{NYSE|RMAX}} (Class A) | industry = Real estate | founded = {{start date and age|January 30, 1973}} | founders = Dave Liniger<br> Gail Liniger (formerly Main) | location = Denver, Colorado, U.S. | key_people = {{unbulleted list|Karri Callahan, CFO|Grady Ligon, CIO}} | revenue = {{decrease}} $307 million <small>(2024)</small><ref name= "RE/MAX Holdings, Inc. Reports Fourth Quarter 2024 Results">{{cite web|url= https://s27.q4cdn.com/657011822/files/doc_financials/2024/q4/FINAL-Final-RMAX-Q4-2024-Earnings-Release-2-20-25.pdf |title= RE/MAX Holdings, Inc. Reports Fourth Quarter 2024 Results |author= |publisher= RE/MAX Holdings, Inc. |date= 20 February 2025 |access-date= 8 August 2025 }}</ref> | parent = | subsidiaries = {{unbulleted list|RE/MAX, LLC|Motto Mortgage|wemlo}} | website = {{URL|https://www.remax.com}} }} [[File:REMAX Office in Kirstenhof, Cape Town.jpg|thumb|right|250px|RE/MAX office in Kirstenhof, Cape Town, South Africa]] [[File:Remax balloon quebec 2005.jpeg|thumb|right|The RE/MAX hot air balloon at a balloon festival. RE/MAX introduced its hot air balloon logo in 1978 as part of its "Above the Crowd" advertising campaign.]] thumb|RE/MAX office in Canada|right|250px thumb|Business building listed by RE/MAX thumb|RE/MAX ''For Sale'' sign '''RE/MAX''' (officially ''RE/MAX Holdings, Inc.'', and short for '''R'''eal '''E'''state '''Max'''imums) is an international real estate franchise operating in over 100 countries and territories<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=2020-09-01 |title=RE/MAX Holdings Announces the Acquisition of Mortgage Processing Startup wemlo |url=https://www.mottomortgage.com/newsroom/remax-holdings-announces-acquisition-of-wemlo-mortgage-processing |access-date=2023-04-06 |website=Motto Mortgage}}</ref> that, in 2015, had over 100,000 agents in 6,800 offices.<ref name="st">{{cite web |author=Carol Patton |date=1 June 2005 |title=RE/MAX: Training With A Competitive Advantage |url=http://www.satellitetoday.com/telecom/2005/06/01/remax-training-with-a-competitive-advantage/ |access-date=28 October 2015 |publisher=Via Satellite}}</ref>
== History == ===Early history: 1973–76=== RE/MAX was founded in 1973 by Dave Liniger and Gail Main in Denver, Colorado.<ref name="Denver">{{cite web|url=http://www.denverrealestatewatch.com/2009/10/20/remax-tankes-high-on-franchise-list/|title=RE/MAX ranks high on franchise list|author=John Rebchook|date=20 October 2009|publisher=Denver Real Estate Watch|access-date=30 October 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://money.cnn.com/2009/08/14/smallbusiness/how_remax_got_started.fsb/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150220040509/http://money.cnn.com/2009/08/14/smallbusiness/how_remax_got_started.fsb|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 20, 2015|title=Surviving recession #5: The Re/Max startup story|author=Dinah Eng|date=19 August 2009|publisher=CNN|access-date=30 October 2015}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{cite web |url=https://www.remax.com/newsroom/company-info/remax-history/ |title=RE/MAX History {{!}} RE/MAX Newsroom |website=www.remax.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140831052158/http://www.remax.com/newsroom/company-info/remax-history/ |archive-date=2014-08-31}}</ref>
It was established with a maximum commission concept, meaning that agents would keep nearly all of their commissions and pay their broker a share of the office expenses, rather than paying their broker a share of the commission of each sale, which is common in residential real estate.<ref>{{cite journal |title=Remax World Wide |author=Mike Taylor |journal=ColoradoBiz |date=October 2001}}</ref>
In 1975, Dennis Curtin purchased the first RE/MAX franchise outside of Colorado, in Kansas City, Missouri.<ref>{{Cite web|title=KCH&S Real Estate Experts 2015|url=https://issuu.com/contentmedia/docs/kch_srealestateexperts|access-date=2020-06-30|website=Issuu|date=11 November 2015 |language=en}}</ref> Growing to 100 franchises in two years,<ref>{{cite book|title=Above the Fray: Leading Yourself, Your Business and Others During Turbulent Times|author=Larry Parman|date=30 June 2013|publisher=Morgan James Publishing}}</ref><ref name="book">{{cite book|title=Everybody Wins: The Story and Lessons Behind RE/MAX|url=https://archive.org/details/everybodywinssto00hark|url-access=registration|author1=Phil Harkins|author2=Keith Hollihan|date=13 December 2004|publisher=John Wiley & Sons|isbn=9780471710240}}</ref> it has held an annual convention since its first one was held in Las Vegas in 1976.<ref name="book" />
===International expansion: 1977–98=== It opened its first office outside the U.S. in 1977, when Don Fernie started ''RE/MAX South'' in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.<ref>{{Cite book|last1=Holmes|first1=Gillian K.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=o9_yWE2_BgUC&q=re%2Fmax+ltd+canada+1977&pg=PA8|title=Who's Who in Canadian Business 2001|last2=Davidson|first2=Evelyn|date=2001-03-01|publisher=University of Toronto Press|isbn=978-0-920966-60-0|language=en}}</ref> Having 30 Canadian franchises by 1981,{{Citation needed|date=June 2020}} RE/MAX became the top real estate company in that country six years later.<ref>{{cite journal|volume=A Century of Success|date=28 August 2005|journal=Calgary Herald|title=Re/Max Western Canada}}</ref>
Having made its inaugural flight at the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta in New Mexico,<ref name=":1" /> the RE/MAX Hot Air Balloon—a red, white and blue hot air balloon—was introduced in 1978,<ref name="London">{{cite web|url=http://www.londonderrynh.net/2013/08/old-home-day-icon-to-rise-again-this-year/64885|title=Old Home Day Icon to Rise Again this Year|date=15 August 2013|publisher=Londonderry News|access-date=30 October 2015}}</ref><ref name="pr newswire">{{Cite press release|title=RE/MAX Celebrates the 35th Anniversary of Its Iconic Hot Air Balloon|url=http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/remax-celebrates-the-35th-anniversary-of-its-iconic-hot-air-balloon-228835651.html|publisher=PR Newswire}}</ref> becoming its official logo the following year. Expanding beyond North America with the formation of ''RE/MAX Europe'' in 1994, it also began operating in Germany, Italy, Spain, and South Africa.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://business.financialpost.com/personal-finance/mortgages-real-estate/one-real-estate-pros-journey-to-cash-in-on-europe |title=One Canadian real estate pro's journey to cash in on Europe |date=11 October 2012 |author=Garry Marr |publisher=Financial Post |access-date=30 October 2015}}</ref>
In November 1994, RE/MAX Satellite Network was launched in the US as a sales training system for real estate. Later renamed RE/MAX University, it debuted at the NAR Convention in Anaheim, California,<ref name=":1" /> and offered training, professional designation courses, and company news.<ref name="st" />
In 1998, two years after his company expanded into Australia and New Zealand,<ref>{{Cite web | url = http://www.couriermail.com.au/questnews/property/sudden-death-of-remax-australia-founder-don-marion-shocks-real-estate-industry/news-story/fe6130ea4dbe6771d1b16283eb39edc7 | title = Sudden death of RE/MAX Australia founder Don Marion shocks real estate industry | date = August 2016 | publisher = Courier Mail}}</ref> Liniger attempted the first manned balloon flight around the world in a stratospheric gas balloon.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.balloonlife.com/publications/balloon_life/9801/9806/teamremax9806.htm|title=Around the World by Balloon|author=Tom Hamilton|publisher=Balloon Life|access-date=30 October 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cnn.com/WORLD/asiapcf/9812/27/remax.balloon/|title=Latest balloon quest to shoot for stratosphere|date=27 December 1998|publisher=CNN|access-date=30 October 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|journal=Science World|date=16 November 1998|title=Around the World in a Balloon|author=Michael Cannell}}</ref><ref name="realty">{{cite web |url=http://realtytimes.com/todaysheadlines1/item/24562-19980817_liniger3 |title=What You Didn't Know About Liniger's Space Balloon Mission |date=16 August 1998 |author=Blanche Evans |publisher=Realty Times |access-date=30 October 2015}}</ref> The flight was canceled due to design and weather problems.<ref>{{cite web| url=https://hypertextbook.com/facts/1997/CassandraEng.shtml | title=Altitude of the highest manned balloon flight| first=Cassandra| last=Eng| year=1997| website=The Physics Factbook| editor-last=Elert| editor-first=Glenn| access-date=2018-07-06}}</ref>
===Online expansion and IPO: 2006–present=== In 2006, three years before it was reported that its franchises were present in 70 countries,<ref name="Denver" /> RE/MAX began to list all U.S. homes for sale on its website, including homes being sold by competitors.<ref>{{cite journal|journal=The Denver Post|author=Kristi Arellano|date=19 August 2005|title=Re/Max International to post all U.S. homes for sale on its Web site}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://realtytimes.com/agentnews/agentconcerns1/item/9835-20050817_nationalidx|title=RE/MAX to open national IDX website|author=Blanche Evans|date=16 August 2005|publisher=Realty Times|access-date=30 October 2015}}</ref> By 2011, the company already had more than 6,000 franchises.<ref>{{cite web|title=About RE/MAX LLC|url=http://www.entrepreneur.com/franchises/remaxllc/282746-0.html|access-date=30 October 2015|publisher=Entrepreneur Magazine}}</ref>
In April 2010, the Obama administration announced the "Home Affordable Foreclosure Alternatives" (HAFA) program.<ref>{{Cite book|last1=Anacker|first1=Katrin B.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zs6gDwAAQBAJ&q=In+April+2010%2C+the+Obama+Administration+announced+the+%22Home+Affordable+Foreclosure+Alternatives%22+%28HAFA%29+program.&pg=PT24|title=The Routledge Handbook of Housing Policy and Planning|last2=Nguyen|first2=Mai Thi|last3=Varady|first3=David P.|date=2019-07-02|publisher=Routledge|isbn=978-1-317-28269-3|language=en}}</ref> Leaders from the U.S. Treasury Department and the Bank of America detailed the initiative while participating in a live national broadcast held at RE/MAX headquarters.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://dsnews.com/news/foreclosure/04-06-2010/government-agents-lenders-vendors-one-solitary-force-when-it-comes-to-hafa-2010-04-06 |title=Government, Agents, Lenders, Vendors: One United Force When It Comes to HAFA |author=Carrie Bay |publisher=DSNews |access-date=30 October 2015}}</ref>
In 2013, UN Special Rapporteur Richard Falk released a report which alleged that real estate groups, such as RE/MAX, found to promote or sell properties in Israeli settlements may be held liable for complicity in the crime of promoting settlement activity in occupied territory.<ref>[https://unispal.un.org/UNISPAL.NSF/0/296CF21249B48B5B85257C0D00684C44#bmk56 Report of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories occupied since 1967 (A/68/376, 10 September 2013, Item 69 (c))]</ref><ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.upi.com/Top_News/Special/2013/10/30/US-European-finances-tied-to-Israeli-settlements/86181383142072/| title=US, European finances tied to Israeli settlements| date=October 30, 2013| publisher=UPI| access-date=August 18, 2015}}</ref> In 2015, RE/MAX Israel was still selling properties in 18 different Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories.<ref>Murtaza Hussain: [https://theintercept.com/2016/02/11/why-is-remax-selling-properties-in-illegal-israeli-settlements/ Why is RE/MAX selling properties in illegal Israeli settlements?] The Intercept, 11 February 2016</ref>
With over 15,000 agents in Europe, the company expanded into China by opening an office in Beijing.<ref>{{Cite web | url = https://money.cnn.com/news/newsfeeds/articles/prnewswire/LA99470.htm | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160118093042/http://money.cnn.com/news/newsfeeds/articles/prnewswire/LA99470.htm | url-status = dead | archive-date = January 18, 2016 | title = RE/MAX Global Presence Hits Major Milestone | publisher= CNN Money}}</ref>
In November 2015, two years after its first IPO raised $220 million,<ref>{{Cite web|last=Duprey|first=Rich|date=2013-10-02|title=RE/MAX Begins Trading on NYSE After IPO|url=https://www.fool.com/investing/general/2013/10/02/remax-begins-trading-on-nyse-after-ipo.aspx|access-date=2020-06-30|website=The Motley Fool|language=en}}</ref> RE/MAX Holdings Inc completed its second offering of approximately $185 million,<ref>{{Cite web|title=RE/MAX Co-Founder Files to Sell Shares – 24/7 Wall St.|url=https://247wallst.com/services/2015/10/27/remax-co-founder-files-to-sell-shares/|access-date=2020-06-30|language=en-US}}</ref> holding a 58.3% stake and RIHI owns 41.7% of RE/MAX LLC. Total diluted share count (public and private) as of December 31 was 30.2 million shares.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.marketwatch.com/story/10-k-remax-holdings-inc-2016-02-26|title=10-K: RE/MAX HOLDINGS, INC |date=26 February 2016 |access-date=4 May 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2013-10-01/re-max-raises-220-million-in-ipo-pricing-shares-above-range|title=Re/Max Gains After $220 Million IPO Priced Above Target |date=2 October 2013| author1=Elizabeth Dexheimer |author2=Leslie Picker |publisher=Bloomberg |access-date=30 October 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://dealbook.nytimes.com/2013/08/19/remax-files-to-go-public-as-housing-market-continues-upswing/?_r=1|title=Re/Max Files for I.P.O. As Housing Market Continues Upswing|date=19 August 2013|author=Michael J. De La Merced|work=The New York Times|access-date=30 October 2015}}</ref>
Operating in about 100 countries, RE/MAX maintained the largest corporate fleet of hot air balloons in the world (115) in 2016.<ref>{{Cite press release | url = http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/remax-china-open-for-business-916324054.html | title = RE/MAX China Open for Business | publisher = PR Newswire}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web | url = http://rismedia.com/2016/09/18/remax-hosts-successful-global-franchise-sales-summit-in-thailand/ | title = RE/MAX Hosts Successful Global Franchise Sales Summit in Thailand | date = 18 September 2016 | publisher = RIS Media}}</ref> Furthermore, covering Minnesota and Wisconsin, RE/MAX Results was declared its largest franchise, with 1,200 agents and an average of 20 transactions per agent.<ref>{{Cite web | url = https://www.realtrends.com/blog/remax-results-launches-tribus-custom-website/ | title = Largest Re/Max Franchisee | publisher = Real Trends}}</ref>
Two years later, former president Geoff Lewis<ref>{{Cite web | url = https://www.realtrends.com/blog/geoff-lewis/ | title = President Geoff Lewis To Retire | date = 12 February 2018 | publisher = RealTrends}}</ref> and Liniger<ref>{{Cite web | url = https://www.inman.com/2018/02/14/adam-contos-takes-over-re-max-as-sole-ceo/ | title = Dave Liniger officially steps down at Re/Max, Adam Contos takes over as sole CEO | publisher = Inman}}</ref> retired after leaving their roles, with responsibilities passing to CEO Adam Contos. That same year, it was reported that he had violated the firm's ethics by lending a multimillion-dollar sum of his own personal money to Contos.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.denverpost.com/2018/02/22/remax-david-lingier-loan-violated-ethics|title=Re/Max founder David Liniger violated ethics code with $2.38M loan to executive, company finds|date=22 February 2018|publisher=The Denver Post|access-date=22 February 2018}}</ref>
=== Proposed acquisition by The Real Brokerage (2026) ===
In April 2026, RE/MAX Holdings announced a definitive agreement to be acquired by The Real Brokerage Inc. (NASDAQ: REAX), a technology-focused real estate brokerage, in a transaction implying an enterprise value of approximately $880 million. Under the terms, a new holding company named Real REMAX Group would be formed; RE/MAX Holdings shareholders may elect to receive either 5.152 shares of Real REMAX Group or $13.80 in cash per share (based on Real's closing price on April 24, 2026), subject to proration, with aggregate cash consideration capped between $60 million and $80 million. Real shareholders would receive one share of Real REMAX Group for each share held, and are expected to own approximately 59% of the combined company upon closing. The REMAX and Motto Mortgage brands are to continue operating independently within the group.
The transaction is expected to close in the second half of 2026, subject to regulatory approval and approval by shareholders of both companies. It is not subject to a financing condition; Real secured a $550 million commitment arranged by Morgan Stanley and Apollo Global Funding to refinance RE/MAX Holdings' existing debt and fund the cash consideration.<ref>{{cite news |title=Real Brokerage to Acquire Re/Max in Widening Consolidation |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-04-27/real-brokerage-to-buy-re-max-as-amid-real-estate-consolidation |publisher=Bloomberg News |date=April 27, 2026 |access-date=May 2, 2026}} {{cite news |title=The Real Brokerage, REMAX to combine in $880M transaction |url=https://www.housingwire.com/articles/real-to-acquire-remax-880-million-real-remax-group/ |publisher=HousingWire |date=April 27, 2026 |access-date=May 2, 2026}} {{cite news |title=Real Brokerage To Acquire REMAX In Major Consolidation Play |url=https://www.inman.com/2026/04/27/real-brokerage-to-acquire-remax-for-880m-in-consolidation-play/ |publisher=Inman |date=April 27, 2026 |access-date=May 2, 2026}} {{cite press release |title=Real to Acquire REMAX, Creating a Leading Technology-Enabled Global Real Estate Platform |url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260426359658/en/Real-to-Acquire-REMAX-Creating-a-Leading-Technology-Enabled-Global-Real-Estate-Platform |publisher=Business Wire |date=April 27, 2026 |access-date=April 29, 2026}}</ref>
== Subsidiaries == In addition to RE/MAX LLC, RE/MAX Holdings, Inc. owns two other brands.
'''Motto Mortgage''' ('''Motto Franchising, LLC''') is the first national mortgage brokerage franchise brand in the United States. Motto was launched by RE/MAX in 2016.<ref name=":0" />
'''Wemlo''' (stylized as '''wemlo''') is a fintech company that provides third-party mortgage loan processing services. The company was founded in early 2019 as a startup in Florida by David Rogove and Steven Gelley. RE/MAX Holdings announced its acquisition of wemlo on September 1, 2020.<ref name=":0" />
==Philanthropy== In 1992, RE/MAX became a sponsor of Children's Miracle Network.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Children's Miracle Network|url=https://www.achieverscolumbus.com/blank?lightbox=dataItem-j9h3snlb|access-date=2020-06-30|website=RE/MAX Achievers|language=en}}</ref> The company hosts art auctions, organizes golf tournaments, and encourages agent fundraising activities. Collectively, all RE/MAX affiliates have raised $147 million for the Children's Miracle Network hospitals in over 20 years of sponsorship.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://childrensmiraclenetworkhospitals.org/Media/PressRoom/REMAX2015Funds2016R4 |title=Creating Real Miracles by Raising Funds for Local Hospitals |publisher=Children's Miracle Network Hospitals |access-date=4 May 2016}}</ref>
In 2002, the company became a sponsor of the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation Race For The Cure events in the United States.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://realtytimes.com/todaysheadlines1/item/16775-20020305_komen |title=RE/MAX Sponsors Komen's "Race for the Cure" |date=4 March 2002 |publisher=Realty Times |access-date=28 October 2015}}</ref>
Local offices use hot air balloons for educational programs and non-profit organization fundraisers.<ref name=London/>
==Recognition== RE/MAX University has been featured in ''Training Magazine''{{'}}s Top 125 US Organizations recognizing employee development.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.trainingmag.com/training-magazine-ranks-2015-top-125-organizations|title=Training Magazine Ranks 2015 Top 125 Organizations|date=10 February 2015|publisher=Training Magazine|access-date=30 October 2015}}</ref>
== See also ==
== References == {{Reflist}}
== External links == {{Commonscat}} * {{Official website|http://www.remax.com/}} * [https://remax.it/ Official website Italy] * [https://remax.md/ Official website Moldova]
{{Real estate}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:RE MAX}} Category:Franchises Category:Real estate companies established in 1973 Category:Real estate services companies of the United States Category:American companies established in 1973 Category:Companies based in Denver