Real Brokerage REMAX merger clears antitrust hurdle

With shareholder votes just a month away, the proposed merger between The Real Brokerage and REMAX has cleared an important antitrust hurdle.

On Monday, REMAX filed a document with the Securities and Exchange Commission announcing that the Department of Justice (DOJ) had granted the companies an early termination of their Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements (HSR) Act of 1976 waiting period for the proposed merger Monday night. 

The HSR Act is a federal law that was originally designed to strengthen antitrust enforcement, in part by giving the government advance notice of large mergers and acquisitions so they can be reviewed for competitive harm before they are completed. The act requires parties to notify both the DOJ and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) about proposed mergers.

After filing their notice, the parties must observe a mandatory waiting period, which is typically 30 days on most proposed acquisitions. During this waiting period the government agencies review the proposed transaction for potential antitrust concerns. Once the waiting period expires, the companies are free to close the transaction and no further HSR-related approval is required in order for them to be able to close the transaction. 

According to REMAX’s SEC filing, the completion of the merger “remains subject to the satisfaction of other customary closing conditions specified in the Merger Agreement, including the receipt of the requisite approvals of the stockholders of the Company and the securityholders of Real.” 

Given that, with the shareholder votes scheduled for August 14 at both firms, it appears the merger will close on schedule in the second half of 2026. 

While the merger has cleared its HSR Act waiting period, this does not mean it is free from future antitrust scrutiny. The DOJ and FTC did not review Compass’s acquisition of Anywhere earlier this year despite the urging of federal lawmakers and now the deal, which closed in early January 2026, is allegedly under scrutiny from the New York Attorney General.