Commercial real estate brokers are facing unprecedented challenges in 2026. From economic uncertainty to constantly shifting asset class dynamics, things can change dramatically from one day to the next, and brokers need to be able to adapt quickly to keep up.
“Not all asset classes perform equally, which is why brokers need the flexibility to sell or lease whatever is doing best in their market,” REMAX Commercial Executive Director Kristie Kimnach said.
She said brokers can gain that flexibility with REMAX Commercial, the CRE arm of REMAX. REMAX Commercial operates differently from many other major CRE firms because each office is independently owned and operated. This allows brokers greater flexibility in their chosen asset classes and control over their fees.
Kimnach said many REMAX Commercial brokers refer to themselves as “generalists.” That’s because REMAX does not tell its independent CRE brokers which asset classes they can sell, so they can branch out freely. Additionally, the company does not dictate or have any involvement in commission splits between offices and brokers the way other large firms may, she said.
“While some firms are doing 50/50 splits between the broker and the office, REMAX offices are independently owned and operated and have the freedom to set what works for them,” Kimnach said. “It’s a huge advantage for the broker.”
By joining a REMAX brokerage with a commercial division, brokers gain access to the company’s global network of more than 145,000 residential and commercial agents, creating an “incredible opportunity” for referrals, Kimnach said. The MAXRefer platform gives REMAX affiliates access to direct and open referral opportunities across the entire network, using artificial intelligence to streamline the process and help them find the right agent to connect with.
“A lot of commercial agents aren’t used to having access to that level of referrals,” she said. “If REMAX Commercial brokers tap into that market and work with residential agents across the REMAX network, which has a presence in more than 120 countries and territories, that could open so many doors.”
REMAX Commercial brokers have the opportunity to connect with other agents at the REMAX brand’s many large conferences and networking events. These include REMAX R4 in Las Vegas, which takes place in late February, and the REMAX Global Commercial Symposium in April.
Along with gaining access to the wide community of REMAX agents, REMAX Commercial brokers are also connected to RealNex Marketplace, a comprehensive marketing platform where agents can search, list and transact properties.
Continuing education is also a top priority for REMAX, Kimnach said, which is why REMAX University features several commercial-focused courses and will be adding 13 more this year. Once a month, the company hosts a REMAX Commercial Pro series, where experts do a live educational session on a commercial topic.
“Quarterly, we do a global deal call, which is a lot of fun, where people can pitch their commercial listings live,” she said. “They get two minutes to pitch a listing, and then the audience has two minutes to ask questions. At a recent session, someone featured a $120M island off the coast of Tanzania.”
The company works with the Certified Commercial Investment Member Institute to offer discounted courses for REMAX agents. REMAX also aligns with the Realtors Land Institute, providing discounts for courses and the conference it hosts each year.
“The majority of the time, a land transaction is commercial, and we have an incredible land network to connect our agents to,” Kimnach said.
It’s that network — and the company’s vast, global community of residential and commercial agents — that truly sets REMAX apart from other CRE firms, she said.
“REMAX Commercial brokers are self-driven professionals with an entrepreneurial spirit who want to be a part of a like-minded network,” Kimnach said. “The REMAX network makes that possible.”
This article was produced in collaboration between REMAX Commercial and Studio B. Bisnow news staff was not involved in the production of this content.
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