Impacts of Adopting New Revenue Recognition - Disaggregated revenue (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Sep. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Sep. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2017	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue	$ 50,841	$ 54,866	$ 54,277	$ 52,642	$ 48,510	$ 49,071	$ 48,727	$ 47,406	$ 212,626	$ 193,714	$ 175,642
Owned Regions
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue									133,925	125,092	103,756
Independent Regions
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue									46,289	44,799	47,498
Global and Other
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue									24,290	23,266	24,384
RE/MAX Franchising
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue									204,504	193,157	175,638
Other
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue									8,122	557	4
U.S.
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue									170,496	160,537	145,488
Canada
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue									23,771	23,189	22,071
Global
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue									$ 10,237	$ 9,431	$ 8,079