Windermere Real Estate
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 7,000 agents.[1]
Privately held company | |
Industry | Real Estate |
Founded | 1972 |
Founder | John Jacobi |
Headquarters | Seattle |
Number of locations | 300 |
Key people |
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Services |
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Number of employees | 7000 |
Website | windermere |
History
Windermere 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.[2] As of 2019, Windermere had offices in Washington, Oregon, California, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Arizona, Hawaii, Utah, Alaska, Mexico,[3] Colorado,[4]. All Windermere offices are locally owned and operated.
In 2010, Windermere created Windermere Solutions, a web platform for agents.[5] Windermere Solutions rebranded as MoxiWorks in 2014 and began operating independently of Windermere Real Estate.[6] In 2015, Windermere partnered with Porch.com to integrate their data with MoxiWorks.[7]
On March 12, 2013, Windermere announced that it would add drive times to and from work as an attribute of new home buying.[8] According to INRIX, Windermere is the first real estate company to offer this feature.[9] On August 9, 2013 Windermere added Search by Drive Time as a new home buyer feature to its website.[10]
In 2016, Windermere Real Estate entered a three-year agreement to be the "Official Real Estate Company of the Seattle Seahawks".[11] In November 2016, Windermere launched the "W" Collection, a luxury residential real estate brand for houses priced over $3 million.[12] The "W" Collection was an extension of the company's Premier Properties program.[12]
In 2006, D'Ambrosio & Associates Realtors joined Windermere as a subsidiary.[13] In 2018, Windermere Real Estate acquired a 50 percent stake in West Coast Commercial Realty, a Seattle-based commercial real estate firm.[14]
Geoff P. Wood, 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.[15] Jill Jacobi Wood, daughter of John Jacobi, was appointed President of Windermere Real Estate Company in 2003.[16] 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.[15]
In 2017, Windermere appointed its first COO, Brooks Burton.[17]
Philanthropy and Awards
In 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.[18] In 2002 the company began sponsoring the Cascade Cup.
In 1989, the company established The Windermere Foundation to support low-income and homeless families.[19] The foundation won the Corporate Philanthropy Award in 2018 from the Portland Business Journal.[19]
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.[20]
In 1999, Windermere Real Estate received the Washington Family Business of the Year Award (Large Business) from the Pacific Lutheran University Family Enterprise Institute.[21]
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.[22] In 2015, Inman nominated Windermere for their Most Innovative Real Estate Company award.[23]
References
- "It's a family affair at 40-year-old Windermere". The Seattle Times. Retrieved 2018-11-30.
- ""Kushner sells office, will retireThe businesswill 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.
- "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.
- "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.