Windermere Real Estate
Windermere Real Estate is a privately held, family-owned residential real estate brokerage founded in 1972 in Seattle, operating the largest agent network in the Western US with 6,000+ agents across nine states and Mexico, plus adjacent luxury, commercial, and property management services.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1972
- HeadquartersSeattle, United States
- Headcount5,001–10,000
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Windermere Real Estate does
Windermere Real Estate, founded in 1972 by John Jacobi in Seattle, Washington, is a privately held, family-owned residential real estate brokerage and the largest regional real estate company in the Western United States. The firm operates a network of more than 6,000 licensed agents across 170+ offices spanning nine U.S. states (Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, and Washington) plus Mexico, providing buyer and seller representation in residential transactions. Its core product is a full-service brokerage platform built around the agent network, supplemented by a consumer-facing website with property search, home value estimation, and mortgage calculator tools, a mobile search app, and a state-specific microsite structure for each operating geography.
The company's product portfolio extends beyond traditional brokerage into adjacent service lines, including Premier Properties (luxury), Ultra Luxury Properties (W.byWindermere), Builder Solutions, Commercial Real Estate, Equestrian Living, Property Management, and Relocation Services. Technology infrastructure is layered: Windermere integrates third-party platforms—most notably Homebot (automated client equity insights, rolled out to the full agent network in March 2026) and Local Logic (AI-driven neighborhood analytics, announced September 2025)—rather than building proprietary AI or CRM systems in-house. Content distribution is anchored by the Windermere Blog, quarterly market reports from Principal Economist Jeff Tucker (a Zillow alumnus hired in July 2024), and brand-building events such as the Windermere Cup rowing event (held annually since 1987) and the Community Service Day tradition (held since 1984).
Windermere's revenue model is primarily transactional, earned through real estate commissions on closed home sales and supplementary professional service fees from property management, relocation, commercial brokerage, and builder partnerships. Pricing is commission-based and not publicly disclosed. Go-to-market is hybrid: a relationship-led agent sales motion supported by direct-to-consumer digital tools and channel partnerships with technology vendors. The company is led by second-generation President OB Jacobi, with third-generation family member Lucy Wood promoted to Regional Director for western Washington and Oregon in June 2026, overseeing the firm's largest region. The firm has no disclosed external investors, no parent company, and operates as a going concern with active operations across its stated footprint.
Windermere Real Estate firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Windermere Real Estate
- Legal name
- Windermere Real Estate Services Company
- Website
- https://windermere.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1972
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 5,001–10,000 employees
- Short description
- Windermere Real Estate is a privately held, family-owned residential real estate brokerage founded in 1972 in Seattle, operating the largest agent network in the Western US with 6,000+ agents across nine states and Mexico, plus adjacent luxury, commercial, and property management services.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Windermere Real Estate industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Residential Real Estate Brokerage
- NAICS
- Offices of Real Estate Agents and Brokers (5312), Residential Property Managers (531311), Nonresidential Property Managers (531312)
- SIC
- Real Estate Agents & Managers (For Others) (6531)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Traditional Residential Brokerage (Existing Homes) (BPAJAAAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Luxury & High-End Residential Brokerage (BPAJAAAC), Multifamily Brokerage (BPAJABAD)
Keywords
Where Windermere Real Estate is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Seattle
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Windermere Real Estate business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Real Estate Commissions: Windermere generates revenue through real estate agent commissions on property transactions. Agents represent buyers and sellers in residential real estate transactions across the company's nine-state footprint. Commission structures typically involve a percentage of the transaction value.
- Additional Real Estate Services: The company offers additional services including builder solutions, commercial real estate, equestrian living, premier properties, ultra luxury properties (w.bywindermere.com), property management, and relocation services, which generate additional revenue streams.
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels7 records
Windermere Real Estate product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Windermere Real Estate is a full-service residential real estate brokerage that helps individual clients buy and sell homes through a network of more than 6,000 licensed agents operating across 170+ offices in nine U.S. states and Mexico. The company supplements its core brokerage with specialized service lines including Premier Properties, Ultra Luxury Properties (W.byWindermere), Builder Solutions, Commercial Real Estate, Equestrian Living, Property Management, and Relocation Services. Revenue is generated primarily through real estate agent commissions on property transactions.
Product overview
Windermere Real Estate operates as a full-service residential real estate brokerage with a platform-plus-modules architecture. The core Windermere Real Estate Platform provides home buying and selling services through over 6,000 agents across nine states and Mexico, complemented by specialized divisions including Premier Properties (luxury), WBY Windermere (ultra-luxury), Builder Solutions (new construction), Commercial Real Estate, Equestrian Living, Property Management, and Relocation Services. Supporting digital products include the Windermere Search App (mobile), Home Worth Calculator, and Mortgage Calculator tools, alongside dedicated state-specific websites for Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, and Washington. The company also publishes the Windermere Blog and Windermere Real Estate Education platform as content resources.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Windermere Foundation: Charitable arm of Windermere that supports low-income and homeless families throughout the Western U.S.
- Windermere Cup
- Windermere Services Company
- Ultra Luxury Properties
- Windermere Relocation Services
Products and services
- Windermere Real Estate Brokerage Services Full-service residential real estate brokerage helping individual home buyers and sellers complete transactions through a network of 6,000+ agents across nine U.S. states and Mexico.
- Premier Properties Luxury real estate division offering high-value residential property sales and specialized concierge services for discerning clients.
- Ultra Luxury Properties (W.byWindermere)
- Builder Solutions
- Commercial Real Estate
- Equestrian Living
- Property Management
- Relocation Services
- Windermere Search App
Companies that use Windermere Real Estate
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Windermere Real Estate technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration2 records
Feature2 records
Windermere Real Estate partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- HomebotcoreHomebot, a client engagement platform, partnered with Windermere Real Estate to provide its agents with automated home equity insights. The partnership enables Windermere's over 6,000 agents across nine states and Mexico to access personalized reports, aiming to strengthen client relationships post-sale and support long-term client engagement and retention.
- Local LogiccoreWindermere Real Estate partnered with Local Logic for neighborhood insights, providing AI-driven neighborhood analytics integrated into property listings. This partnership enhances the company's property search experience by offering detailed neighborhood data to potential home buyers.
- SeabrookminorSeabrook and Windermere Real Estate announced a strategic partnership and exclusive sales relationship, expanding Windermere's presence in specific markets through collaboration with Seabrook properties.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Windermere Real Estate competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Redfin: Tech-enabled residential brokerage serving many Western U.S. markets including CA, WA, OR, CO, and AZ. Redfin's salaried-agent model and consumer-facing technology platform represent a direct competitive alternative to Windermere's traditional agent-led approach.
- Compass: Tech-enabled residential brokerage operating in many of Windermere's Western U.S. markets. Compass competes directly for agents (offering higher splits and equity) and consumer mindshare through modern digital experiences, making it the most comparable peer in terms of competitive overlap.
- Sotheby's International Realty: Global luxury real estate brand with strong presence in Western U.S. luxury markets. Directly comparable to Windermere's WBY Windermere ultra-luxury and Premier Properties divisions in terms of high-net-worth client focus and premium commission economics.
- John L. Scott Real Estate: Pacific Northwest-based regional brokerage headquartered in Bellevue, WA, with a similar agent-led model and strong presence in Washington and Oregon. John L. Scott is one of Windermere's closest direct geographic competitors in its core market.
- eXp Realty: Cloud-based brokerage with a virtual model and attractive agent equity program. eXp competes for Windermere's agent recruitment through higher commission splits and stock-based compensation, particularly threatening mid-career producers.
- Howard Hanna Real Estate: Large family-owned regional brokerage with multi-state operations and a similar diversified service portfolio (residential, mortgage, title, insurance). Howard Hanna's structure and strategic approach closely mirrors Windermere's model of full-service regional dominance.
Broad incumbents
- Coldwell Banker: One of the largest national residential real estate franchises with deep presence in Western U.S. markets. Coldwell Banker competes for both agents (via franchise model) and luxury listings, overlapping with Windermere's Premier Properties division.
- Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices: National franchise network owned by Berkshire Hathaway with strong brand recognition in luxury and residential segments. Operates in many of Windermere's nine Western states, competing for agents and luxury listings (especially in CA and AZ).
- Keller Williams Realty: Largest real estate franchise by agent count in the U.S., with significant Western U.S. presence. Keller Williams competes via its agent-centric profit-sharing model and aggressive recruitment, making it relevant to Windermere's agent retention thesis.
- RE/MAX: One of the largest global real estate franchise networks with substantial Western U.S. agent density. RE/MAX competes for independent agent affiliation and brand-driven consumer recognition, with comparable commission-based economics.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Windermere Real Estate social profiles
Digital presenceWindermere Real Estate compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance3 records
Windermere Real Estate financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Windermere Real Estate leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
Windermere Real Estate subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries4 records
Windermere Real Estate funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Windermere Real Estate M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Windermere Real Estate
What does Windermere Real Estate do?
Windermere Real Estate is a full-service residential real estate brokerage that helps individual clients buy and sell homes through a network of more than 6,000 licensed agents operating across 170+ offices in nine U.S. states and Mexico. The company supplements its core brokerage with specialized service lines including Premier Properties, Ultra Luxury Properties (W.byWindermere), Builder Solutions, Commercial Real Estate, Equestrian Living, Property Management, and Relocation Services. Revenue is generated primarily through real estate agent commissions on property transactions.
Is Windermere Real Estate a public or private company?
Windermere Real Estate is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was Windermere Real Estate founded?
Windermere Real Estate was founded in 1972. It employs 5,001 to 10,000 people.
Where is Windermere Real Estate based?
Windermere Real Estate is headquartered in Seattle, United States, in the North America region.
How does Windermere Real Estate make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Real Estate Commissions are the primary driver. The others are additional Real Estate Services.
Who are Windermere Real Estate's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Redfin, Compass, Sotheby's International Realty, John L. Scott Real Estate, eXp Realty and Howard Hanna Real Estate. Broad incumbents are Coldwell Banker, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices, Keller Williams Realty and RE/MAX.
Does Windermere Real Estate have an API?
No public API is recorded for Windermere Real Estate.
What industry is Windermere Real Estate in?
Windermere Real Estate's product category is Residential Real Estate Brokerage. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAJAAAA, Traditional Residential Brokerage (Existing Homes), with a secondary code of BPAJAAAC, Luxury & High-End Residential Brokerage. Its NAICS code is 5312 and its SIC code is 6531.