Summary of Franchised Store Activity, Company-Operated Sales and Lease Ownership Store Activity and Company-Operated HomeSmart Store Activity (Detail)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012 Store	Dec. 31, 2011 Store	Dec. 31, 2010 Store
Franchisor Disclosure [Line Items]
Franchised stores open at January 1,	713	664	597
Opened	56	55	62
Added through acquisition			10
Purchased from the Company	3	9	10
Purchased by the Company	(21)	(7)	(12)
Closed, sold or merged	(2)	(8)	(3)
Franchised stores open at December 31,	749	713	664
Company-operated HomeSmart stores open at January 1,	1,232	1,150
Company-operated HomeSmart stores open at December 31,	1,324	1,232	1,150
HomeSmart
Franchisor Disclosure [Line Items]
Company-operated HomeSmart stores open at January 1,	71	3
Opened	7	24	3
Added through acquisition	1	44
Closed, sold or merged	(1)
Company-operated HomeSmart stores open at December 31,	78	71	3
Sales and Lease Ownership
Franchisor Disclosure [Line Items]
Company-operated HomeSmart stores open at January 1,	1,160	1,146	1,082
Opened	76	57	86
Added through acquisition	21	8	14
Closed, sold or merged	(11)	(51)	(36)
Company-operated HomeSmart stores open at December 31,	1,246	1,160	1,146