Windermere Real Estate is a real estate company founded in 1972 and based in Seattle, Washington.[1] It is a privately held company and is the largest regional real estate company in the Western U.S., with over 300 offices and 6,500 agents.[2]
| Company type | Privately held company |
|---|---|
| Industry | Real Estate |
| Founded | 1972 |
| Founder | John Jacobi |
| Headquarters | Seattle |
Number of locations | 300 |
Key people |
|
| Services |
|
Number of employees | 7000 |
| Website | windermere |
History
editWindermere Real Estate was founded by John W. Jacobi in 1972, when he purchased an eight-agent office in Seattle, Washington.[1] It grew outside Seattle in 1984 with an office on Bainbridge Island.[3] As of 2019[update], Windermere had offices in Washington, Oregon, California, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Arizona, Hawaii, Utah, Alaska, Mexico,[4] and Colorado.[5] All Windermere offices are locally owned and operated.
In 1989, the company created the Windermere Foundation to support low-income and homeless children and families throughout its footprint. A portion of every commission on a real estate transaction is donated directly to the Foundation in addition to other fundraisers held at office, regional, or company-wide events, including an annual Community Service Day.[2]
In 2010, Windermere created Windermere Solutions, a web platform for agents.[6] Windermere Solutions rebranded as MoxiWorks in 2014 and began operating independently of Windermere Real Estate.[7] In 2015, Windermere partnered with Porch.com to integrate their data with MoxiWorks.[8]
On March 12, 2013, Windermere announced that it would add drive times to and from work as an attribute of new home buying.[9] According to INRIX, Windermere is the first real estate company to offer this feature.[10] On August 9, 2013 Windermere added Search by Drive Time as a new home buyer feature to its website.[11]
In 2016, Windermere Real Estate entered a three-year agreement to be the "Official Real Estate Company of the Seattle Seahawks".[12] In November 2016, Windermere launched the "W" Collection, a luxury residential real estate brand for houses priced over $3 million.[13] The "W" Collection was an extension of the company's Premier Properties program.[13]
In 2006, D'Ambrosio & Associates Realtors joined Windermere as a subsidiary.[14] In 2018, Windermere Real Estate acquired a 50 percent stake in West Coast Commercial Realty, a Seattle-based commercial real estate firm.[15]
Geoff P. Wood, the son-in-law of founder John Jacobi, became president of the Windermere Real Estate Company in 1999.[1] He was promoted to CEO in 2003 and became co-president in 2007.[16] Jill Jacobi Wood, daughter of John Jacobi, was appointed President of Windermere Real Estate Company in 2003.[17] In 2009, OB Jacobi, John Jacobi's son, was appointed co-president.[1] As of 2007, John Jacobi served as chairman of the board for Windermere Real Estate Company after ceasing participation in day-to-day operations.[16]
In 2017, Windermere appointed its first COO, Brooks Burton.[18]
Philanthropy and awards
editIn 1987, Windermere Real Estate sponsored the first Windermere Cup, a crew race in the Montlake Cut of the Lake Washington Ship Canal, which became an annual event. In 2002 the company began sponsoring the Cascade Cup.[19]
In 1989, the company established The Windermere Foundation to support low-income and homeless families. The foundation won the Corporate Philanthropy Award in 2018 from the Portland Business Journal.[20]
In 2003, Windermere launched a program called Home For The Holidays, which pays one year's rent for seven families in the Puget Sound Region.[21]
In 1999, Windermere Real Estate received the Washington Family Business of the Year Award (Large Business) from the Pacific Lutheran University Family Enterprise Institute.[22]
In 2008, Windermere Real Estate was named the "Top Private Company" by Washington CEO magazine.[1] In 2013, Windermere was awarded the Succession Award from Seattle Business Magazine.[23] In 2015, Inman nominated Windermere for their Most Innovative Real Estate Company award.[24]
References
edit- ^ a b c d e "It's a family affair at 40-year-old Windermere". The Seattle Times. Retrieved 2018-11-30.
- ^ a b "Windermere Real Estate Celebrates 50TH Anniversary". Retrieved 2022-01-31.
- ^ ""Kushner sells office, will retire the business will be owned by islander Jim Laws." | Bainbridge Island Review". Bainbridge Island Review. 2001-06-27. Retrieved 2018-11-30.
- ^ "Windermere expands in Southern California, hires new exec". Inman. Retrieved 2018-11-30.
- ^ "Browns to open Windermere Real Estate office in Windsor – BizWest". BizWest. 2018-01-11. Retrieved 2018-11-30.
- ^ "New broker platform merges CRM, intranet, email marketing". Inman. Retrieved 2018-11-30.
- ^ "Windermere Solutions rebrands to Moxi Works, launches new real estate software". GeekWire. 2014-10-08. Retrieved 2018-11-30.
- ^ CNBC (2015-02-17). "Porch.com and Windermere Real Estate Come Together to Simplify Home Buying". CNBC. Retrieved 2018-11-30.
- ^ Wingfield, Nick (March 12, 2013), "Predicting Commutes More Accurately for Would-Be Home Buyers", The New York Times
- ^ Windermere Real Estate and INRIX Partner to Help Home Buyers Find Properties with the Actual Drive Times (press release), INRIX, March 13, 2013
- ^ Hanley Frank, Blair (August 9, 2013), "Windermere partners with Inrix to provide drive-time recommendations for homebuyers", GeekWire
- ^ "Exclusive: Windermere, Seahawks to tackle homelessness as part of sponsorship deal". www.bizjournals.com. Retrieved 2018-11-30.
- ^ a b "Windermere's ultra luxury W Collection brand and website officially launches". www.bizjournals.com. Retrieved 2018-11-30.
- ^ "D'Ambrosio joins with Windermere". www.bizjournals.com. Retrieved 2018-11-30.
- ^ "Windermere acquires 50% of West Coast Commercial Realty". Inman. Retrieved 2018-11-30.
- ^ a b "Windermere founder passes the torch to next generation". www.bizjournals.com. Retrieved 2018-11-30.
- ^ "Windermere Real Estate | History of Windermere". Retrieved 2018-11-30.
- ^ "Windermere Real Estate Appoints Its First COO: Brooks Burton". Inman. Retrieved 2018-11-30.
- ^ "The eight most memorable Windermere Cup rowing races in Huskies history". The Seattle Times. 2016-05-05. Retrieved 2018-11-30.
- ^ "Corporate Philanthropy Award winner (Large Category): Windermere Realty Trust". www.bizjournals.com. Retrieved 2018-11-30.
- ^ "Windermere Real Estate". Retrieved 2018-11-30.
- ^ "Pacific Lutheran University Family Enterprise Institute". community.plu.edu. Retrieved 2018-11-30.
- ^ "It's All Relative: Family Business Awards | Seattle Business Magazine". www.seattlebusinessmag.com. Retrieved 2018-11-30.
- ^ "Inman announces 2015 Innovator Award candidates". Inman. Retrieved 2018-11-30.
