AI, listing fragmentation and M&A: Real Brokerage’s Tamir Poleg’s Big Bet on Real Estate’s Future
On this episode of the RealTrending podcast, Tamir Poleg, CEO of The Real Brokerage, sits down with Tracey Velt to unpack why Real’s acquisition of REMAX is less about market share and more about combining scale, brand power and technology under one umbrella. Poleg explains that Real saw an opportunity to bring its AI-driven platform and growth mindset to a legacy franchise brand that still carries enormous recognition with consumers and agents alike.
The conversation digs into the cultural alignment between Real and REMAX, the growing debate around private listings and listing fragmentation, and why Poleg believes the industry may be nearing a “point of no return” when it comes to listing data fragmentation. While many brokerages are loudly taking sides, Real has intentionally stayed quiet, choosing instead to focus on what its agents and consumers actually want.
Poleg also lays out his vision for AI in real estate — not as a replacement for agents, but as a productivity engine that creates “super agents.” He describes a future where specialized AI assistants handle contracts, marketing and administrative work behind the scenes, allowing agents to focus on the human side of the transaction.
Throughout the episode, he emphasizes that the future of real estate belongs to companies that can remove friction, improve transparency and create a smoother consumer experience without losing the trusted advisor relationship at the center of the business.
Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn:
- Real says the REMAX acquisition is about combining complementary strengths: brand recognition, scale, growth and technology.
- Poleg believes REMAX’s slowdown was tied partly to a tech and value proposition gap that Real can help solve.
- Real plans to keep both brands culturally distinct while sharing technology, education and referral opportunities.
- The company intentionally stayed quiet during the private listings debate because most of its agents said clients weren’t asking about it.
- Poleg warned the industry may be approaching irreversible MLS and listing fragmentation.
- He believes fragmented listing access could ultimately hurt consumers by making housing data less accurate and harder to find.
- Real sees AI as a friction-reduction tool, not a replacement for agents.
- Poleg described a future where agents use multiple specialized AI assistants for contracts, marketing and transaction management.
- Real’s approach is to weave AI naturally into workflows rather than forcing agents to learn entirely new systems.
- Poleg says the industry’s biggest challenge isn’t technology — it’s delivering a simpler, faster and more transparent homebuying experience.
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The RealTrending podcast features conversations with the brightest minds in real estate. Every Monday, brokerage leaders, top agents, team leaders, and industry experts join us to share their secrets to success, trends, and the lessons they’ve learned. Hosted by Tracey Velt and produced by the HousingWire Content Studio.
