What does the Real–RE/MAX merger mean for agents and broker owners? Tamir Poleg joins REM’s Andrew Fogliato to explain how the deal came together and what he wants to build next.
Recorded at the Real Estate Connect Conference in Toronto, this conversation goes behind the acquisition from an idea Poleg first raised in 2021, when Real had roughly 1% of RE/MAX’s agent count, to his plans for the combined organization.
Poleg discusses the future of the RE/MAX brand and franchise model, why Real and RE/MAX will offer different models under the same umbrella, and how Real’s technology could help b...
What Tamir Poleg said
Written from the verified transcript and checked against it. Every figure links to the moment it was said.
Tamir Poleg, CEO of Real/Remax Group, discussed the merger's origins, agent and broker impact, and brand strategy. He revealed the acquisition process began on February 11, 2021, when Real had 1,500 agents versus Remax's 150,000, and that they made a declined offer in mid-2024 before finalizing the deal in April 2026. Poleg emphasized that Remax will remain a separate franchise brand, with technology from Real (particularly transaction management and payment processing) offered to broker owners to improve efficiency. He noted surprise at the weak partnership culture between Remax and its broker owners and committed to increasing field support. Poleg clarified that while a holding company called Real Remax Group exists, agents cannot mix brand logos, and a short-lived attempt to allow logo use was reversed within a day due to agent feedback.
Key takeaways
Poleg said the merger process started on February 11, 2021, when Real was only 1% of Remax's size, and closed in April 2026.
Poleg stated Remax will stay a franchise with its brand and agreements unchanged, augmented with Real's technology tools.
Poleg said agent feedback caused the company to reverse a decision allowing cross-brand logo use on yard signs within one day.
Poleg said Real's brokerage operations, with over 35,000 agents, give them insight into franchisee challenges.
Poleg said the company will focus on helping broker owners attract and train agents, taking other tasks off their plates.
0:12How are you finding that compared to what you expected so far?
0:37Like when did you approach them, they approach you, but how did that process start and when did you kind of get into it?
2:03And so when was that moment where you knew, okay now I'm going to get it? Like when did that happen?
2:42... and I know they have franchise agreements, but if you go out 5, 10 years when all the existing ones are kind of renewing, what do you expect kind of a typical Remax brokerage in terms of what's different when that renewal starts happening?
4:52And what technology have you found has been helping your brokerages the most?
5:22And then when you're looking at working with franchises now, which is very different, what's been different than you expected already having to deal with franchises than what it would have been before?
It's exciting. I mean we've been looking at Remax for a long time, for a few years actually, and really dove deep into what Remax means and what the network looks like and the culture and everything. I think that we came to the closing moment with a lot of knowledge, but it's never the same. A good surprise was how passionate people are about the brand and all of the history that I'm still absorbing and learning. But it's been great.
And because this is actually a question we get a lot, to find out if we knew, and I didn't know. So, you're the perfect person to ask. When did this start? Like when did you approach them, they approach you, but how did that process start and when did you kind of get into it?
It actually started on February 11, 2021. So 5 and a half years ago. I texted one of my board members. My company, previous company, Real, our current company, Real was tiny. We had about 1,500 agents and Remax had about 150,000. So, we were 1% of Remax. I reached out to one of my board members and I messaged him, you might think I'm crazy, but I think we should acquire Remax. And he replied by, I don't think you're crazy, but let's talk about it. And we talked about it. And then obviously, we needed the money to make this acquisition. And we went to talk with a few institutional investors who obviously thought I was crazy. And then I realized that we need a few more years to grow Real. And then December of 2023, I got to know Eric, the former CEO of Remax. It was his fifth day on the job and we met. And a few months later, in the middle of 2024, we actually made an offer to acquire Remax, so a little over two years ago, which they declined. But we stayed in touch and things kind of received a renewed momentum at the end of 2025. So it's been five years in the process. We've gotten together or became closer in the past 2 and a half years.
You know, you never know until the last moment. And I mean it's all in the public filing. It was a very competitive process because there were a few companies that were interested in acquiring Remax. Obviously, it's an amazing brand and an amazing company, very attractive. Once we picked up the momentum in December of 2025, I had a gut feeling that this time it's ours, but I was not sure until the last moment when it was signed back in April this year, just because there was competition and people actually offered more than Real did. So, there was always a chance of somebody else acquiring the brand.
I'm curious, when we talk to broker owners from Remax, one of their biggest questions is how is that going to change for them? So when, and I know they have franchise agreements, but if you go out 5, 10 years when all the existing ones are kind of renewing, what do you expect kind of a typical Remax brokerage in terms of what's different when that renewal starts happening?
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Poleg, T. (2026, September 28). Real–RE/MAX Merger: What Changes for Agents? | Tamir Poleg [Interview transcript]. Real Estate Magazine. CEOInterviews.AI. https://ceointerviews.ai/interview/2945452/
MLA
Tamir Poleg. "Real–RE/MAX Merger: What Changes for Agents? | Tamir Poleg." Real Estate Magazine, 28 Sep. 2026. Transcript, CEOInterviews.AI, https://ceointerviews.ai/interview/2945452/.
BibTeX
@misc{poleg2026_2945452,
author = {Tamir Poleg},
title = {Real–RE/MAX Merger: What Changes for Agents? | Tamir Poleg},
howpublished = {Interview transcript, Real Estate Magazine. CEOInterviews.AI},
year = {2026},
month = {sep},
url = {https://ceointerviews.ai/interview/2945452/},
note = {Speaker-attributed transcript with timestamps}
}
