Change is afoot. We suppose it always is, but doesn’t it all seem to come at us so much faster in today’s world? We see change all around us. Just consider, for a moment, how much technology has changed our lives thanks to innovators like Uber, Google, and Apple, to name a few. Technology has also changed the way we do real estate.

The real estate world is a complex environment that most of us only travel once every 10 years. This infrequency, coupled with the ever-changing laws and emotional toll, makes it very hard for most of us to navigate. That’s why we rely on a professional. Even those of us who live and breathe real estate every day use a Windermere agent to conduct our personal transactions.

Thanks to technology, certain aspects of the real estate process that were once difficult are now very easy, like searching for a home. Within minutes of a property being listed, it’s fed to websites all over the world for potential buyers to see. Information about neighborhoods, schools, and home values are also readily available online to help buyers make smart decisions.

There’s no doubt that real estate will continue to benefit from technology, but we’re concerned about the companies that are beginning to look at consumers less as people and more as data that can be generated and shared for monetary gain.

At Windermere, our agents don’t treat their clients like data points being fed into an algorithm; they know them on a personal level. They help buyers make one of the biggest financial and emotional decisions of their lives. They help sellers understand the nuances of the market so they can get top dollar for their home. They are experts in neighborhoods, market trends, contracts, and negotiations. They treat their clients with respect and compassion. And they care deeply about their local community.

As the saying goes, the more things change, the more they stay the same. Real estate is the perfect example of that. Technology will continue to change and improve how people buy and sell homes, but our pledge to you is that it will never replace what has always mattered most to us: relationships.

– OB JACOBI, JILL JACOBI WOOD, AND GEOFF WOOD

All of us at Windermere are very excited to kick-off our third season as the Official Real Estate Company of the Seattle Seahawks!

Once again, our #tacklehomelessness campaign is front-and-center, with the Windermere Foundation donating $100 for every Seahawks home-game defensive tackle to YouthCare, a Seattle-based non-profit organization that has been providing services and support to homeless youth for more than 40 years. During the past two seasons, the Seahawks have helped us raise $66,800 through our #tacklehomelessness campaign, and this year we are looking forward to raising even more money – and awareness – for this important cause.

Our partnership with the Seahawks and YouthCare fits perfectly with the mission of the Windermere Foundation which is to support low-income and homeless families in the communities where we have offices. Through the #tacklehomelessnesscampaign, we hope to be able to do even more.

A “scorecard” will be posted after each home game with an update on how much we’ve raised. You can follow our progress throughout the Seahawks season on our Facebook page at Facebook.com/WindermereRealEstate and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/windermere/.

Windermere Real Estate, the largest regional brokerage in the Western U.S. is celebrating its second year in the Denver market this month.  After just two years, the Seattle-based company now ranks in the top 3% of all real estate brokerage companies in the metropolitan area.

While Windermere has been growing over the last two years, metro Denver homeowners have been benefitting from the robust growth in real estate prices.  According to the latest report from the Federal Housing Finance Authority, Denver ranks 14^th out of 258 metropolitan areas for home price appreciation with 10.14% growth over the last 12 months.

This appreciation rate is nearly double the long-term average of 5.8%.  Prices in metro Denver have been appreciating at double-digit rates for the last four years in a row.  The average price of a single-family home now stands at $448,000.  Just two years ago, when Windermere started in Metro Denver, the average price was $371,000.

“For four years now we have had the perfect storm to cause prices to increase at a rate that is nearly double the long-term average.  Metro Denver is one of the fastest growing populations in the country, we have an incredibly healthy economy with high employment, interest rates that are roughly half of the long-term average, and the inventory of homes is at all-time lows,” said Eric Thompson president of Windermere Real Estate in Colorado.

There are only 2,918 single family homes currently for sale in Metro Denver, 7.8% lower than a year ago.  “With tight supply and strong demand, we see expect very strong price appreciation for the foreseeable future,” said Thompson.

About Windermere Colorado:

Since its inception in 1972, Windermere Real Estate has grown to be a network of 300 offices with more than 6,000 agents by focusing on three basic principles: hire the best people, give them the best tools and create thriving communities. Windermere’s growth has allowed them to expand into the Colorado market led by Eric Thompson, President of Windermere Colorado. 

Centennial Office: www.Windermere5280.com

Cherry Creek office: www.wmdre.com

PRESS RELEASE

For Immediate Release

Windermere Metro Denver expands to Aurora
Windermere opens fourth office in Colorado

Denver, COLO. (December 8, 2016) – Windermere Real Estate has just opened a new office in one of the fastest growing communities in Metro Denver.  The new Aurora location, which is located in the Southlands shopping center, joins Windermere locations in Fort Collins, Centennial, and Denver. Windermere opened its first office in Colorado just two years ago and has plans to continue growing across the state over the next few years.

“We are very excited about our recent expansion into Southeast Aurora; the city is growing by leaps and bounds and we are happy to be part of this exciting growth,” said Vincent Grandi, co-owner and managing broker of the Windermere Aurora office. “One industry that has lacked a presence in the area is real estate, forcing many home buyers and sellers to search outside the area for a real estate agent. We are proud to now provide a local neighborhood office with experienced and knowledgeable agents who live and work in Aurora and have extensive knowledge of all that the city has to offer,” said Grandi who co-owns the Windermere Metro Denver and Aurora locations along with (insert all the owner’s names).

Grandi added that one of the best advantages of living and working in the city of Aurora is the vast diversity of its residents, “Aurora is a melting pot of many immigrants that have chosen to come from all over the globe to live and work.  We’re proud to be part of this community and look forward to providing the best real estate experience to the residents of Aurora,” he said.

The office features a hip, fresh atmosphere, effective spaces for agent training and client meetings, and a rooftop deck.

“This location fits our strategy to serve home buyers and sellers all across the Front Range,” said Eric Thompson President of Windermere Real Estate in Colorado.  “We are thrilled with the team at Windermere Metro Denver and their ability to offer an exceptional experience to both their agents and their customers.  I’m excited to watch Windermere grow in Aurora.”

About Windermere Colorado:

Since its inception in 1972, Windermere Real Estate has grown to be a network of 300 offices with more than 6,000 agents by focusing on three basic principles: hire the best people, give them the best tools and create thriving communities. Windermere’s growth has allowed them to expand into the Colorado market led by Eric Thompson, President of Windermere Colorado. For more information, visit www.windermerecolorado.com.

 About Windermere Real Estate

Windermere Real Estate is ranked the largest regional real estate company in the Western U.S. with over 300 offices and 6,000 agents serving communities in Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Mexico. Last year, Windermere closed over 86,000 home sales for more than $31.7 billion in dollar volume. The Windermere family has a proud heritage of serving our neighbors via the Windermere Foundation, which funds services for low-income and homeless families. Since 1989, the Windermere Foundation has contributed more than 32 million dollars towards improving lives in the communities where we live and work. For more information, visit www.windermere.com.

PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release

November 9, 2016

Windermere Colorado triples sales and agents in two years
Innovative program and Millennial agents drive success for Colorado real estate company
Fort Collins, COLO. (Nov. 9, 2016) – After opening its first Colorado office in December of 2014 in Fort Collins, Windermere Real Estate Colorado has experienced accelerated expansion with new offices in Centennial and Denver Metro over the past two years. The rapid growth stems from a number of factors, but primary among them are a one-of-a-kind home selling program and a fresh approach to hiring and engaging a younger workforce.
With the Front Range expansion, Windermere Colorado has tripled sales volume from $77 million in 2015 to $205 million now, increasing employees from 21 to 65 agents during this same time.  Windermere Real Estate’s Colorado President, Eric Thompson, explains, “We’ve figured out how to be relevant to top-selling real estate agents and how to be relevant to the customer. In our mind it’s pretty simple: agents want their company to save them time and energy, and customers want a predictable process with no surprises.”
Thompson and his team pioneered a revolutionary program to market a home called the “Windermere Certified Listing.” Similar to buying a certified pre-owned vehicle, the program includes a pre-inspection of each listing before it ever goes on the market. With the pre-inspection in hand, the seller can decide how to handle certain repairs and then be transparent with the buyer as to the exact condition of the home.
“The biggest disappointments in a typical transaction occur when there is a surprise. With this program we’ve virtually eliminated all surprises,” says Thompson.
Now entering its third year, the Certified Listing program is getting results. For example, Windermere’s listings in the Northern Colorado market sell for 14 percent more and 42 percent faster than the market average. It has also been a key driver to attract productive agents to Windermere because the company’s staff handles the scheduling of all the vendors who prepare the home for sale.  “The Certified Listing program was a big reason why I chose to align with Windermere,” said Natalie Davis, Windermere agent and past Chair of the Fort Collins Board of REALTORS. “It saves me an enormous amount of time and allows me to focus my energy on my customers.”

Interestingly, the program has also resulted in a younger generation of agents joining Windermere. Currently, 20 percent of Windermere Colorado employees fall under the Millennial generation, an uncommon characteristic for a real estate company in an industry where the average age for a realtor nationally is 58.
At 35 percent, Millennials are the largest share of home buyers, which has been consistent over the last four years according to the National Association of Realtors. Having younger real estate agents to connect to this group is something Windermere leveraged at an early stage.  “Most of my clients are in their 20s or 30s,” says Kyle Basnar, a Millennial agent at Windermere Colorado.  “Windermere educates us on how to effectively guide this group and give them the information they need to make good decisions.”

Both the younger and experienced agents at Windermere also appreciate Windermere’s commitment to giving back to the communities where they serve. The Windermere Foundation has generated over $31 million in donations since its inception toward supporting low-income and homeless families. In Colorado, Windermere partners with Homeless Gear, Colorado Coalition for the Homeless and the YMCA.

“Charitable giving is incredibly important to me and the agents on our team. The fact that Windermere is so committed to giving back to the communities where they serve was certainly a major factor in our decision to join Windermere,” said Carl McNew, co-owner of Windermere Metro Denver.

About Windermere Colorado:
Since its inception in 1972, Windermere Real Estate has grown to be a network of 300 offices with more than 6,000 agents by focusing on three basic principles: hire the best people, give them the best tools and create thriving communities. Windermere’s growth has allowed them to expand into the Colorado market led by Eric Thompson, President of Windermere Colorado. For more information, visit www.windermerecolorado.com.
About Windermere Real Estate
Windermere Real Estate is ranked the largest regional real estate company in the Western U.S. serving communities in Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington and Mexico. The Windermere family has a proud heritage of serving our neighbors via the Windermere Foundation, which funds services for low-income and
homeless families. Since 1989, the Windermere Foundation has contributed more than 31 million dollars towards improving lives in the communities where we live and work. For more information, visit www.windermere.com.