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]

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.^[3] As of 2019^[update], Windermere had offices in Washington, Oregon, California, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Arizona, Hawaii, Utah, Alaska, Mexico,^[4] 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]

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. 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]