RE/MAX

In 1973, two real estate agents in their twenties, Dave and Gail Liniger, looked at the real estate industry in Denver, Colorado, and saw a system that felt broken. Agents typically split their commissions 50/50 with their brokers, meaning top performers were effectively subsidizing the less productive agents. The Linigers envisioned a new model: Real Estate Maximums, or RE/MAX. The idea was to let experienced, productive agents keep nearly all of their commission in exchange for paying a flat monthly fee to cover office expenses and management. This agent-centric model proved revolutionary. By empowering entrepreneurial agents, RE/MAX grew quickly. In 1975, the first franchise was sold outside of Colorado, and by 1978, the company had 1,000 agents. That same year, the company introduced its now-iconic red, white, and blue hot air balloon logo, symbolizing its motto, "Above the Crowd." The franchise model fueled rapid national and then international expansion, entering Canada in 1977 and Europe in 1994. After forty years of private ownership and global expansion, the company reached a major financial milestone. In October 2013, RE/MAX Holdings, Inc. went public on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol RMAX, raising $220 million in its initial public offering. This event marked a new era for the company, providing capital to further solidify its position as a global real estate brand.