Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - Disaggregated revenue (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2020	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2020	Sep. 30, 2019
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue	$ 71,073	$ 71,541	$ 193,552	$ 214,100
Company -owned Regions
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue	40,226	39,693	104,632	115,423
Independent Regions
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue	8,792	8,954	25,357	25,726
Global and Other
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue	1,934	2,434	9,239	10,141
RE/MAX Franchising
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue	50,952	51,081	139,228	151,290
Total Marketing Funds
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue	17,290	18,034	46,577	54,866
Motto Franchising
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue	1,906	1,178	4,434	3,167
Other
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue	925	1,248	3,313	4,777
U.S. | RE/MAX Franchising
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue	42,257	42,013	114,786	125,437
U.S. | Total Marketing Funds
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue	15,701	16,163	41,948	49,216
Canada | RE/MAX Franchising
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue	5,898	5,886	15,833	17,128
Canada | Total Marketing Funds
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue	1,405	1,644	4,075	5,029
Global | RE/MAX Franchising
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue	2,797	3,182	8,609	8,725
Global | Total Marketing Funds
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue	$ 184	$ 227	$ 554	$ 621