After Real Purchase, RE/MAX HQ May Move to Florida

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — One of Colorado's most prominent companies – and among the world's most recognizable real estate brands – may be making a headquarters move to Florida as part of an $880 million transaction announced Monday by tech-based real estate firm Real Brokerage.

RE/MAX Holdings, founded in 1973 by pioneering broker and entrepreneur Dave Liniger and his wife Gail, has been purchased by Real, reputed for rapid expansion that has relied on AI and cloud-based real estate business models.

In a joint news release, the companies announced April 27 that the two had signed an agreement for Real to acquire the RE/MAX brand and holdings and that they would fashion a new "tech-enabled global platform" to be named Real REMAX Group.

RE/MAX's headquarters in the Denver Tech Center would be merged into Real's headquarters in Florida in the course of the transaction, although the statement suggested some operations may remain in Denver.

Chad Ochsner, broker and owner of Arvada-based RE/MAX Alliance, which did $3.5 billion in sales last year, said that a Zoom call with RE/MAX's corporate office following the announcement reassured brokers that some operations and staff might stay in the Mile High.

However, it is possible they would not be at the company's iconic headquarters building at Belleview and I-25.

A merging of 'efficiencies and technologies'

Ochsner and other local executives of RE/MAX franchises in Colorado were caught unaware of the move and were working to field questions from their agents – everything from whether fees would change to whether new yard signs would be needed.

Real Brokerage's share price (NASDAQ: REAX) had fallen around 25% over the day as the market headed for a closing bell following the announcement. Shares of RE/MAX (NYSE: RMAX) appeared to gain some 24% on the news.

The companies' statement said the $880 million price tag represented an "enterprise value" of the Colorado-based real estate giant, calling it a "synergized multiple" of the company's core profitability potential.

The Wall Street Journal, in reporting the deal, put the actual value at $550 million, considering some debt and other factors. The Journal added that RE/MAX shareholders could choose shares in the new, combined entity or take cash for shares they own.

The Journal noted that founder Liniger maintained a non-traded stake in the company estimated at 40%, which would affect the overall market value of the transaction.

Ochsner and other local brokerage execs were quick to add that they expect the affiliation with Real and its technologies to be a substantial benefit to agents over time.

"What they are purchasing is what they don't have and what we are getting is what we don't have," Brad Whitehouse, broker and owner of Littleton-based RE/MAX Professionals, told The Denver Gazette.

"What we are gaining over time are efficiencies and technologies that we haven't had access to, and what they are gaining is the world's most recognizable real estate brand," Whitehouse added. "The two are an intriguing fit."

The joint release by the two companies noted that, along with their brand names and stock exchange symbols (RMAX and REAX), the acquisition would merge two complementary business models. One of those is an AI-powered platform involving proprietary software, the other an iconic brand with a network of some 145,000 agents in more than 120 countries.

"The combined company will deliver a differentiated end-to-end home buying and home selling experience for the combined company's nearly 8,500 franchisees and 180,000 (plus) agents, more than 100,000 of whom are based in the U.S. and Canada," the companies said in the release.

The statement added that RE/MAX and its national mortgage brokerage franchise MOTTO will continue to operate under their current brands. Real would continue to operate under the Real brand.

Tamir Poleg, chairman and CEO of Real, said that both brokers and consumers would benefit from the purchase.

"This acquisition is an important step on our journey to build a technology platform that empowers real estate professionals and improves the consumer experience," Poleg said in the statement. "Together, we will create a more innovative, more productive and more connected real estate ecosystem that we believe will generate substantial long-term value for agents, franchisees, consumers and shareholders."

Liniger, the RE/MAX founder and board Chairman, added that the timing is right for the move.

"When Gail and I founded REMAX in 1973, we built a company for business-minded entrepreneurs with a customer-service mindset," Liniger said in the release. "To see the incredible momentum and strength of the REMAX brand today, I know now is the right time and Real is absolutely the right partner to move REMAX into the future."

A trend of corporate mergers

Ochsner noted that the acquisition is part of a pattern of corporate mergers. Last year, Compass Real Estate acquired Anywhere Real Estate in what was reported as a $1.6 billion deal.

"The national landscape could shake out to maybe five national brands," Ochsner speculated, noting that, in real estate, it would mark a continuing trend toward lower overhead and operating costs for brokers and franchisees.

The companies' news release said that brokers operating under either brand would "benefit from the opportunity to utilize reZEN, Real's integrated technology platform, providing them with greater productivity through streamlined transaction management, AI automation and integrated financial services."

It went on to say that franchisees would see stronger agent attraction and retention, expanded revenue opportunities and lower operating costs.

Copyright © 2026 Our Colorado News, Englewood, CO. Reporter Bernadette Berdychowski contributed to this article. All rights reserved.