Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - Disaggregated revenue (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2019
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue	$ 52,207	$ 71,381	$ 122,479	$ 142,559
Company -owned Regions
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue	29,365	39,823	64,406	75,730
Independent Regions
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue	7,780	8,671	16,565	16,772
Global and Other
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue	1,226	1,891	7,305	7,707
RE/MAX Franchising
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue	38,371	50,385	88,276	100,209
Total Marketing Funds
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue	11,765	18,060	29,287	36,832
Motto Franchising
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue	1,070	1,030	2,528	1,989
Other
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue	1,001	1,906	2,388	3,529
U.S. | RE/MAX Franchising
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue	31,420	41,689	72,529	83,424
U.S. | Total Marketing Funds
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue	10,596	16,381	26,247	33,053
Canada | RE/MAX Franchising
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue	4,625	5,893	9,935	11,242
Canada | Total Marketing Funds
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue	1,015	1,500	2,670	3,385
Global | RE/MAX Franchising
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue	2,326	2,803	5,812	5,543
Global | Total Marketing Funds
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue	$ 154	$ 179	$ 370	$ 394