Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - Disaggregated revenue (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2020	Mar. 31, 2019
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue	$ 70,272	$ 71,178
Company -owned Regions
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue	29,244	30,018
Independent Regions
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue	10,794	10,923
Global and Other
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue	9,867	8,883
RE/MAX Franchising
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue	49,905	49,824
Total Marketing Funds
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue	17,522	18,772
Motto Franchising
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue	1,458	959
Other
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue	1,387	1,623
U.S. | RE/MAX Franchising
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue	41,109	41,735
U.S. | Total Marketing Funds
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue	15,651	16,672
Canada | RE/MAX Franchising
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue	5,310	5,349
Canada | Total Marketing Funds
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue	1,655	1,885
Global | RE/MAX Franchising
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue	3,486	2,740
Global | Total Marketing Funds
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue	$ 216	$ 215