Thinking About Real Brokerage? Run the Numbers First

by Amanda Zito

How much does Real Brokerage actually cost an agent?

For a solo U.S. agent, Real has an 85/15 commission split until you reach a $12,000 annual cap. There are also transaction fees, a $900 annual brokerage fee and post-cap fees.

But those numbers alone don't tell you whether Real is cheaper than your current brokerage.

The better question is:

How much would you actually pay Real over an entire year based on your production?

That's the number I think agents should look at before switching brokerages.

And I want to be clear about something upfront. I'm a Real agent. If you join Real and name me as your sponsor, I may earn revenue share based on your production and Real's revenue share rules.

So rather than simply telling you that Real is a better deal, I want to show you how to run the numbers yourself.

Sometimes the math may make Real look better.

Sometimes it won't.

And that's okay.

What Does Real Brokerage Charge in 2026?

Real updated its U.S. agent fee structure effective September 1, 2026.

For a standard U.S. agent, the current published fees include:

Fee	Current U.S. Agent Plan
Commission split	85/15 until you reach your cap
Annual cap	$12,000 for solo agents and team leaders
Team member cap	Generally $6,000, depending on team structure
CBR fee	$50 per transaction
Annual brokerage fee	$900
Post-cap sale fee	$285 per transaction
Post-cap lease fee	$125 per transaction
Elite Agent post-cap fee	$100 per transaction
Personal transactions	Up to 3 per anniversary year at $250 each
Sign-up fee	$249 one time
Monthly brokerage fee	None

Real collects the $900 annual brokerage fee as $300 from each of your first three transactions during your anniversary year. If you close fewer than three transactions, you only pay the installments tied to the transactions you actually close.

The $50 Compliance and Broker Review, or CBR, fee applies to every transaction the company processes.

One important detail: your cap year isn't necessarily January through December.

Your cap resets on your Real anniversary date.

That's important if you're comparing the cost of moving brokerages in the middle of the year.

Don't Compare Brokerages Based Only on the Split

This is where I see agents get tripped up.

One brokerage says 80/20.

Another says 85/15.

Another says 100% commission.

That doesn't automatically tell you which one costs less.

Instead, calculate your total annual brokerage cost.

Then divide that number by your annual GCI.

That gives you what I call your effective brokerage rate.

For example:

If you earned $150,000 in GCI and paid your brokerage $15,000 total during the year:

$15,000 ÷ $150,000 = 10%

Your effective brokerage cost was 10% of your GCI.

That's a much more useful number than simply saying you're on an 85/15 split.

How to Run Your Own Numbers

You don't need a complicated spreadsheet to start.

Pull your last 12 months of production and work through these four steps.

Step 1: Look at What You Actually Produced

Start with:

Number of transactions closed
Total GCI
Average GCI per transaction

To find your average GCI per deal:

Total GCI ÷ number of transactions

For example, if you closed 10 transactions and earned $90,000 in GCI:

$90,000 ÷ 10 = $9,000 average GCI per transaction

This helps you estimate how quickly you would reach Real's $12,000 cap.

Step 2: Estimate Your Cost at Real

For a solo agent, start with these numbers:

Commission split:
15% of your GCI until you have paid Real $12,000.

Post-cap fees:
Once you cap, the current published fee is generally $285 per sale transaction.

CBR fees:
$50 for every transaction Real processes.

Annual brokerage fee:
Up to $900, collected from your first three transactions.

Then add everything together.

That's a much better estimate of what Real would actually cost your business.

Step 3: Figure Out What Your Current Brokerage Really Costs You

Don't just look at your current split.

Pull your commission statements and add everything you pay.

That might include:

Commission split
Cap
Desk fees
Monthly technology fees
Franchise fees
Royalty fees
E&O fees
Transaction fees
Compliance fees
Brokerage fees
Software fees

Also look at services your brokerage provides that you would otherwise have to pay for yourself.

That's part of the equation too.

Step 4: Compare the Effective Cost

Take the total cost for each brokerage and divide it by your GCI.

For example:

Annual brokerage cost ÷ annual GCI = effective brokerage rate

Now you're comparing the two companies using your actual business instead of marketing numbers.

Example: 16 Deals and $144,000 in GCI

Let's look at a solo agent closing:

16 transactions
$144,000 GCI
About $9,000 GCI per transaction

Using Real's current published U.S. fee structure:

Estimated Cost at Real	Amount
Commission split	$12,000
Post-cap fees: 7 × $285	$1,995
CBR fees: 16 × $50	$800
Annual brokerage fee	$900
Estimated annual total	$15,695

That works out to an effective brokerage cost of approximately:

10.9% of GCI

Notice what happened.

The agent started on an 85/15 split, but because they reached the cap, they didn't actually give Real 15% of their full year's GCI.

Their effective rate ended up much lower.

Example: 8 Deals and $72,000 in GCI

Now let's take another agent with the same $9,000 average GCI per transaction.

This agent closes:

8 transactions
$72,000 GCI

Their estimated costs would look more like this:

Estimated Cost at Real	Amount
Commission split	$10,800
CBR fees: 8 × $50	$400
Annual brokerage fee	$900
Estimated annual total	$12,100

That's an effective brokerage cost of approximately:

16.8% of GCI

Same average commission per transaction.

Very different result.

Why?

Because this agent never reaches the cap.

That's why I don't think agents should make this decision based on the 85/15 split alone.

Your production matters.

What If You're Already at a Low-Cost Brokerage?

This is where the conversation gets more interesting.

Let's use our first agent again:

16 transactions and $144,000 GCI.

Now we'll compare Real with two hypothetical brokerage models.

These aren't specific companies. They're simply examples.

Brokerage Structure	Estimated Annual Cost	Effective Rate
Real's current U.S. agent plan	$15,695	10.9%
80/20 split, $16K cap + $100/month + $350/transaction	$22,800	15.8%
$495/transaction + $150/month	$9,720	6.8%

And this is why I wouldn't tell every agent that switching to Real automatically saves money.

It doesn't.

If you're already at a very lean flat-fee brokerage, you may pay less there.

In that situation, the question changes.

Instead of asking:

Which brokerage has lower fees?

You need to ask:

What am I getting for the difference?

The Numbers Aren't the Whole Decision

Cost matters.

But it isn't the only thing I would consider before changing brokerages.

Revenue Share

Real has a revenue share program for producing agents who sponsor other agents.

Income depends on the agents you sponsor, their production and the tiers you qualify for. It should not be treated as guaranteed income. Real also currently charges an annual revenue share program participation fee and a processing fee on revenue share payments.

For me, I would look at revenue share as an opportunity—not money you should automatically include when deciding whether you can afford to switch.

Elite Agent Benefits

Real also has an Elite Agent program for qualifying high-producing agents.

Current benefits include stock awards and a reduced post-cap transaction fee of $100 for qualifying U.S. Elite Agents.

Again, I wouldn't build your brokerage comparison around benefits you haven't qualified for yet.

Run the numbers based on where your business is today.

Then treat future benefits as additional upside.

What Will It Cost You to Switch?

There are costs that don't show up on a brokerage fee sheet.

You may need:

New signs
New business cards
Updated marketing
Website changes
License transfer fees
New systems and training
Time to move transactions and contacts

And if you're already halfway toward your cap at your current brokerage, switching midyear deserves an extra look.

You don't want to save $3,000 on one side while throwing away $8,000 you've already paid toward another cap.

What Are You Giving Up?

This part is very personal.

Maybe your current brokerage gives you:

An office you actually use
Leads
Transaction coordination
A local broker you trust
Administrative support
Training
Marketing
A strong local brand

Put a value on those things.

A brokerage that's cheaper on paper isn't necessarily cheaper if you have to replace everything yourself.

What About Real and RE/MAX?

Real's combination with RE/MAX Holdings closed on August 24, 2026, with the combined public company operating as Real REMAX Group. Real and RE/MAX have continued with their separate brokerage and franchise models while operating under the combined parent company.

As of October 2026, Real's published U.S. agent plan still lists the 85/15 split, $12,000 solo-agent cap and the fees outlined above.

But this is also why I recommend checking the current fee schedule before making a brokerage move.

Brokerage plans can change.

Your decision should be based on the numbers that apply when you're actually ready to move.

So, Does Switching to Real Make Financial Sense?

Maybe.

And I think that's the right answer.

If you're producing enough to reach your cap, Real's effective cost can look very different from the 85/15 number you see upfront.

If you're doing fewer transactions and aren't getting close to the cap, the cost may be higher than you expected.

And if you're already with a low-cost flat-fee brokerage, Real may not win on fees alone.

That's when you need to look beyond the split.

Consider the technology, support, training, stock opportunities, revenue share, community and what you actually want from your next brokerage.

Then decide whether those things are worth the difference to your business.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Real Brokerage cap in 2026?

Real's current published U.S. agent plan has a $12,000 annual cap for solo agents and team leaders. Team members can have a reduced cap depending on their team structure.

Does Real Brokerage charge monthly fees?

Real's current U.S. agent plan lists no monthly brokerage fee.

There is a $900 annual brokerage fee, collected as $300 from each of your first three transactions during your anniversary year.

Does Real charge a fee on every transaction?

Yes. Real currently charges a $50 Compliance and Broker Review fee on each transaction the company processes.

What happens after I cap at Real?

After reaching your cap, Real's current U.S. fee schedule lists a $285 post-cap transaction fee for sales and $125 for leases. Qualifying Elite Agents have a reduced $100 transaction fee.