Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - Disaggregated revenue (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2018
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue	$ 71,381	$ 54,277	$ 142,559	$ 106,919
Owned Regions
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue	34,019	35,692	64,037	67,055
Independent Regions
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue	11,394	11,694	22,317	22,843
Global and Other
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue	4,972	4,724	13,855	13,806
RE/MAX Franchising
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue	50,385	52,110	100,209	103,704
Total Marketing Funds
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue	18,060	0	36,832	0
Other
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue	2,936	2,167	5,518	3,215
U.S. | RE/MAX Franchising
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue	41,689	43,343	83,424	86,695
U.S. | Total Marketing Funds
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue	16,381	0	33,053	0
Canada | RE/MAX Franchising
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue	5,893	6,213	11,242	11,976
Canada | Total Marketing Funds
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue	1,500	0	3,385	0
Global | RE/MAX Franchising
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue	2,803	2,554	5,543	5,033
Global | Total Marketing Funds
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue	$ 179	$ 0	$ 394	$ 0