

Windermere Real Estate traces its origins to 1972, when a small group of eight agents opened an office in Seattle, Washington. From those early beginnings, the brand has expanded into one of the most prominent real estate networks in the Western United States. Today, its corporate offices are based at 1151 Fairview Avenue N., Suite 105, in Seattle.
The company focuses primarily on residential real estate services, operating across the Western U.S. and parts of Mexico. Its system now includes more than 300 offices and a workforce of over 6,500 agents, giving it a strong presence in the regions it serves.
Windermere launched its franchise program in 1983, allowing independently owned real estate firms to join the network while maintaining local ownership and management. This model helped the brand grow while keeping each office connected to its community.
Beyond assisting homebuyers and sellers, many Windermere offices provide additional services such as commercial real estate support, property management, relocation programs, and mortgage, title, and escrow solutions. This integrated approach enables clients to access a full suite of real estate services under one brand.
Here's what you would need to invest if you were to start this franchise. These costs are provided by the franchisor in the Franchise Disclosure Document.
Windermere Services Company provides several optional training programs to assist franchisees in operating their offices effectively. Here are the main training offerings:
Windermere Services Company does not offer territory protection to its franchisees. Franchisees are not granted exclusive territories, minimum territories, or rights such as options or rights of first refusal to acquire additional franchises.
Approval to open new locations or relocate offices must be obtained from the franchisor and can be denied at their sole discretion. Franchisees may face competition from other Windermere offices, including those owned by the franchisor or affiliated entities.
Additionally, Windermere reserves the right to sell through other distribution channels or brands, both now and in the future, without offering compensation to the franchisee. There are no contractual restrictions preventing Windermere from soliciting customers within any region, regardless of a franchisee’s location.
Below are some of
Windermere Real Estate
key competitors in the
Broker/Realtor
sector.

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3% Realty is a real estate brokerage franchise offering full-service residential listing and buyer representation at a flat three-percent commission, serving cost-conscious home sellers and buyers, and known for streamlined systems, MLS exposure, and Canada-wide recognition as a lower-commission brand.
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Assist-2-Sell is a real estate brokerage franchise offering full-service, flat-fee home listing and buyer representation, serving residential sellers and buyers, and known for discount commissions, strong marketing systems, and a proven model that competes with traditional high-commission brokerages.
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Windermere Real Estate is a real-estate brokerage franchise offering home-buying, selling and leasing services across multiple states, serving agents and clients, and known for community-centred culture, advanced marketing tools and proven franchise systems.
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Intero Real Estate Services is a real-estate brokerage franchise offering full-service buying, selling and leasing of homes and commercial properties, serving agents and clients, and known for strong training, agent-centric model and technology-enabled branding.
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Valbridge is a valuation-services franchise offering real-estate appraisal, review and consulting services for commercial and residential markets, serving lenders, brokers and property-owners, and known for national network, compliance focus and high-quality data standards.
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Harcourts is a real-estate brokerage franchise offering residential and commercial brokerage services, serving property buyers, sellers and agents, and known for innovative tools, global network backing and culture focused on growth and professionalism.
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