Segment information - Reportable Segments Revenue and Adjusted EBITDA (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014		Mar. 31, 2013
Sales Information [Line Items]
Total segment reporting revenues	$ 41,880,000	[1]	$ 39,075,000	[1]
Total segment reporting adjusted EBITDA	16,251,000		15,433,000
Operating Segments | Real Estate Franchise Services
Sales Information [Line Items]
Total segment reporting revenues	39,099,000	[1]	35,650,000	[1]
Total segment reporting adjusted EBITDA	18,675,000		16,246,000
Operating Segments | Brokerage and Other
Sales Information [Line Items]
Total segment reporting revenues	2,781,000	[1]	3,425,000	[1]
Total segment reporting adjusted EBITDA	$ (2,424,000)		$ (813,000)

[1] (a) Transactions between the Real Estate Franchise Services and the Brokerage and Other reportable segments are eliminated in consolidation. Revenues for the Real Estate Franchise Services segment include intercompany amounts paid from the Company’s brokerage services business of $422,000 and $353,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively. Such amounts are eliminated through the Brokerage and Other reportable segment.