RE/MAX

Flagged · Avoid

Lists homes in illegal West Bank settlements, paid $55 million over inflated seller commissions, and watched a franchisee pocket illegal mortgage referral kickbacks.

Last updated October 5, 2026

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Reasons to avoid

Issues span:Human RightsAntitrustConsumer

  1. Listed homes in West Bank settlements

    RE/MAX Israel, operating under the global RE/MAX franchise network, lists and sells properties in more than a dozen illegal Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank. The United Nations Human Rights Office included RE/MAX Holdings on its official database of companies involved in settlement-related activities, a list it updated most recently in September 2025.ohchr.org2025-09-26

  2. $55 million settlement over inflated commissions

    RE/MAX agreed to pay $55 million to settle two class-action antitrust lawsuits alleging the company conspired with the National Association of Realtors to inflate buyer-agent commissions paid by home sellers. As part of the settlement, RE/MAX agreed to stop mandating that sellers pay buyers' agents and dropped its requirement that agents maintain NAR membership.therealdeal.com2023-09-18

  3. Franchisee took illegal mortgage referral kickbacks

    A RE/MAX-branded California franchisee was ordered by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau to pay a penalty and cease the practice after being found to have accepted illegal kickbacks from a mortgage lender in exchange for steering homebuyers toward that lender. Federal law prohibits real estate agents from accepting payments for mortgage referrals because the practice inflates costs for homebuyers.consumerfinance.gov2017-08-16

Ethical alternatives

Real Estate

Local Realtors
Support independent local real estate agents.
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Houwzer
Low-commission brokerage with salaried agents that charges a 1 percent listing fee instead of the standard 3 percent. It is built to keep more money with buyers and sellers rather than with inflated commissions.
✅ B-Corp
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Common questions

Is RE/MAX ethical?
The United Nations Human Rights Office included RE/MAX Holdings on its official database of companies involved in Israeli settlement activities, with its most recent update in September 2025. RE/MAX agreed to pay $55 million to settle two class-action antitrust lawsuits alleging the company conspired to inflate buyer-agent commissions paid by home sellers.
Why should I avoid RE/MAX?
Human rights concerns, antitrust violations, and illegal kickback schemes are the main reasons. A RE/MAX-branded California franchisee was penalized by the CFPB for accepting illegal kickbacks from a mortgage lender in exchange for steering homebuyers toward that lender. RE/MAX Israel lists and sells properties in more than a dozen illegal Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank.
What are the best ethical alternatives to RE/MAX?
Independent local real estate agents work directly for you without the franchise fee structure and are not tied to a brand with an antitrust settlement record. Houwzer is a Certified B Corp brokerage with salaried agents and a 1 percent listing fee.

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