Top Real Estate Companies: How the Major Firms Compare
Top real estate companies set the standard for training, technology, commission structures, and brand recognition that agents use when choosing a brokerage. Whether you’re an agent evaluating where to hang your license or a consumer wondering which company is most likely to have a qualified agent in your area, understanding the major real estate companies and what distinguishes them gives you a clearer framework for the decision.
This guide covers the top real estate firms by size and market presence, what top residential real estate companies offer agents in terms of splits and support, and how the largest residential real estate companies differ in brand positioning and agent experience.
The Largest Residential Real Estate Companies by Transaction Volume
The top real estate companies by agent count and transaction volume include Anywhere Real Estate (parent of Coldwell Banker, Century 21, Sotheby’s International Realty, and ERA), Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices, RE/MAX, Keller Williams, and eXp Realty. Together these top real estate firms represent the majority of US residential transaction volume.
Keller Williams is the largest residential real estate company by agent count (190,000+ agents in the US), followed closely by RE/MAX and Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices. eXp Realty has grown rapidly through a cloud-based brokerage model with no physical offices and aggressive agent revenue sharing.
The major real estate companies operate very different business models. Traditional franchises (Coldwell Banker, Century 21) provide brand recognition, local office infrastructure, and training programs in exchange for a franchise fee at the company level. Independent brokerages and newer entrants like Compass operate with a technology-forward model and higher agent splits but less brand ubiquity in some markets.
What Top Residential Real Estate Companies Offer Agents
Agents evaluate top real estate firms primarily on commission splits, technology tools, training quality, and culture. Keller Williams is known for its training programs (KW MAPS coaching) and its profit-sharing model, which lets agents earn a percentage of their recruits’ gross commission income. RE/MAX operates on a high-split model (agents typically keep 90–100% of commission) with a desk fee structure that works well for high-volume producers.
Top real estate companies that emphasize technology include Compass, Redfin, and eXp Realty. Compass provides agents with a proprietary CRM, market analysis tools, and marketing support in exchange for a split that varies by market. Redfin operates on a salary-plus-bonus model rather than pure commission — a different structure entirely from the other major real estate companies.
The largest residential real estate companies by revenue (Compass, Anywhere, HomeServices of America) operate at a scale that gives them market data advantages — they can see transaction patterns across hundreds of thousands of deals simultaneously. For consumers, this translates to agents who are better informed. For agents, it means technology platforms and training resources that smaller brokerages can’t match at the same cost.