Windermere Real Estate, a real estate company based in Seattle, Washington, was founded by John W. Jacobi in 1972, when he purchased an eight-agent office in the Windermere neighborhood of Seattle. Windermere expanded outside of Seattle in 1984 with an office on Bainbridge Island, and ten years later offices opened up in British Columbia and Idaho. Still privately held, it now has over 400 offices and 8,000 agents.
Local Events: Windermere sponsors the annual Windermere Cup Regatta, which is a rowing regatta featuring teams from around the globe. Windermere also sponsors similar community events in other regions, including the Windermere Collegiate Crew Classic in partnership with Stanford University.
Windermere Foundation: Since finding homes for people is Windermere's business, fighting homelessness is a natural fit for the Windermere Foundation. Through the creation of the Windermere Foundation in 1989, Windermere provides housing and services for homeless and low-income families throughout the West by funding nonprofit organizations dedicated to the same cause. Every time an agent completes a transaction, a donation is made to the Foundation, and Windermere agents and employees also contribute to the fund individually.
Community Service Day: Windermere's 8,000 agents in its offices around the West spend one day each year away from the office to participate in the annual Windermere Community Service Day. The agents decide on a community-based project, and provide hands-on assistance for the day.
Brand Promise: "Windermere promises to do more than help people buy and sell real estate. We are Industry experts who provide full-service, highly professional expertise to help people realize their dreams of home ownership."
As of 2006, Windermere does business in Arizona, British Columbia, California, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming. All Windermere Offices are locally owned and operated. The Realty Alliance and REAL Trends, two leading industry organizations, have recognized Windermere Real Estate as the top regional real estate firm in the Western United States
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