What the Real and RE/MAX Combination Means for Canadian Real Estate Agents
- By Alex Burns
The Real and RE/MAX combination just moved another major step closer.
On August 17, securityholders of both companies approved the proposed transaction. Subject to the remaining closing conditions and final court approval, the two organizations are moving toward the creation of Real REMAX Group.
For Canadian real estate professionals, the question is no longer simply what’s happening.
It’s
What could this mean for the business you’re building?
After more than 20 years with RE/MAX, that’s the question I’m interested in.
Why This Matters Now
I’ve spent more than two decades producing, recruiting, training, leading teams and building brokerages within RE/MAX.
I’ve also watched our industry change dramatically.
Technology has changed. Teams have changed. Consumers have changed. The way agents generate business has changed.
Now the brokerage model itself is evolving.
The proposed Real and RE/MAX combination brings together two very different strengths:
RE/MAX brings more than 50 years of brand recognition, local leadership, established brokerages and a global network.
Real brings a cloud-based brokerage model built around technology, AI, modern agent infrastructure and new ways for agents to participate in the businesses they build.
That combination is what makes this worth paying attention to.
The Deal Just Took a Major Step Forward
Securityholders have now approved the proposed acquisition.
Approximately 99% of Real shareholders and 78.8% of RE/MAX holders voted in favour of the transaction.
Once completed, Real REMAX Group is expected to support more than 180,000 real estate professionals across more than 120 countries and territories.
The Real and RE/MAX brands are expected to remain distinct.
That’s important.
This isn’t about eliminating what has made RE/MAX successful.
It’s about what could become possible when an established global real estate network gains access to greater investment in technology, AI, education and innovation.
What Could This Mean for Your Career?
This is where the conversation gets more interesting.
Your opportunity depends on where you are in the business.
New Agent
You’re building your foundation.
Training, mentorship, technology, community and the people surrounding you can have a major impact on the first few years of your career.
Don’t simply ask where you should hang your licence.
Ask:
Where can I build the career I actually want?
Independent Agent
You’ve learned how to produce.
Now the question becomes:
What is all that production building besides commission?
Your database, brand, systems, relationships, equity opportunities, recruiting potential and long-term business value all deserve consideration.
This is where understanding different brokerage models becomes important.
Team Leader
More agents don’t automatically create a better business.
You need recruiting, retention, systems, technology and an economic model capable of supporting growth.
The goal isn’t simply to build a bigger team.
It’s to build a better business.
Broker/Owner
You’ve potentially spent decades building something valuable.
Agents. Culture. Relationships. Market share. Brand equity. Recruiting infrastructure. Community reputation.
The question shouldn’t be what happens to everything you’ve built.
It should be:
How could the next chapter create more value from it?
Why I'm Interested in Real
What interests me about Real isn’t simply that it’s cloud-based.
It’s how the company thinks about the agent business.
Technology is a major part of it, but so are equity opportunities, revenue share, team infrastructure, education and the idea that agents can build value beyond their next transaction.
That’s a very different conversation from the traditional:
What’s my commission split?
For agents who want to build teams, develop additional opportunities or create something larger than their own production, it’s worth understanding.
And when you combine that thinking with the history, network and recognition of RE/MAX, I believe we’re looking at something with enormous potential.
Don't Wait to Understand Your Options
You don’t need to make a move today.
But this is a good time to understand what’s changing.
Look at your current brokerage.
Look at what you’re paying.
Look at the technology you’re using.
Look at the support you’re receiving.
Look at what you’re building beyond your next transaction.
Then compare the brokerage models and ask which environment gives you the best opportunity to get where you want to go.
The right answer won’t be the same for everyone.
But knowing your options puts you in a much stronger position.
What Comes Next?
I’m excited about where this could go.
I’ve spent more than 20 years inside RE/MAX. I understand the brand, the people and what has made it successful.
I also believe the next generation of successful real estate businesses will be built differently than the last.
That’s why I’m paying attention to Real.
And it’s why I’m talking to agents, team leaders and Broker/Owners who want to understand what this could mean for them.
You don’t need to have everything figured out today.
But you should understand what’s happening, what’s possible and where you want to go next.
Understand What This Means for You
Your next move should reflect the business you’re trying to build.
Explore the path that matches your stage, compare your options and see what the next chapter could look like.
Your next move should reflect the business you’re trying to build.