Keller Williams Realty Logo

Keller Williams Realty

Is This Your Business?
star star star_border star_border star_border

3.4

Overall Score

LAST UPDATED: March 5th, 2024

Keller Williams Realty is a global real estate franchise company. They are the only privately held real estate brokerage firm in North America. It started out as a source for local residential real estate and now is an international company selling both residential and commercial property. 

Top Ranked Companies

thumb_up

The Good

  • International
  • States
  • Agents
  • Offices
  • Real estate options
  • Filtering options
  • License
  • Specialties
  • Experience

International

Keller Williams is one of the few real estate groups that have locations outside the United States. They have offices in 15 countries on several continents. These are: North America, Africa, Europe, Asia, Australia, New Zealand, Central America, South America, the Middle East and most recently, in the country of Panama.

States

Keller Williams Realty offers listings in 50/51 states and throughout Canada. The Keller Williams website offers a search tool to help users find an office near them.

Agents

In 2014, KW became the largest real estate franchise (by number of agents) in North America. Today they have more than 130,000 agents in the United States.

Offices

Today, the company has more than 770 offices internationally under their international franchise organization, Keller Williams Worldwide, Ltd. This makes it unique, since many real estate companies are restricted to the U.S. This allows you to connect with local KW agents in another country to help you find a home or property.

Real Estate Options

If you're buying or selling a home, Keller Williams has the following tools for you:

  • Mobile apps (iOS and Android)
  • Market insights
  • Mortgage information

They also offer tools to help homebuyers and sellers understand the process:

  • Community information - each listed property has a map showing nearby schools, places of worship, etc.
  • Market insights and Real Estate advice - various articles on buying, selling, and managing real estate are available to read.
  • Citibank-sponsored mortgage center - including a mortgage calculator and links to Citibank services.

Filtering Options

KW offers 11 filtering search options for finding a home. You can search City, State or Zip Code. Or you can search properties For Sale, For Rent or Foreclosures. You can also narrow it further with price, beds, baths, property type and square feet. This is a good amount of search filters to find what you want; however, you don't get the more detailed information about the surrounding community that some realtor sites offer in their filters.

License

Keller Williams requires all of their agents to have a real estate license. While some agencies offer real estate agents, realtor and real estate brokers to choose from, KW offers real estate agents only. You do get a choice of agent by specialty and language spoken. This is good if English is not your first language and if you need an agent with expertise in a certain specialty, i.e. commercial real estate.

Specialties

Keller Williams offers buying and selling services in these specialties:

  • Residential: Buying or selling your existing Home, Apartment or Luxury Home
  • Farm and Ranch: a rural land division of Keller Williams Realty with a nationwide network of land brokers specializing in agricultural land, timber land, ranch land, recreational land, equestrian estates, land development, hunting land, etc.
  • Commercial: Buying or Leasing office space, retail space, Land, Industrial, Hospitality or Multi-family properties

No matter the property type or service, Keller's agents are specialists to meet customer's business needs. They have a separate website for their luxury homes called "Luxury Homes International." They also have special pages for their commercial business and farm /ranch properties. Their mortgages are often offered through Citi - they even link out the current rates on both their luxury site and their main site.

Experience

Gary Keller and Joe Williams founded Keller Williams in 1983 in Austin, Texas. For over 30 years, they've been expanding all over the globe with agents specializing in various areas of real estate services.

thumb_down

The Bad

  • Commission/selling cost

Commission/Selling Cost

Commission rates at Keller Williams are, as most real estate agencies do, only disclosed with clients. You don't have to engage further if the amount does not suit your needs.

gavel

The Bottom Line

Keller Williams is a great starting place for any real estate transaction. The trusted global brand deserves a try if you're looking for a residential home or commercial property. If you are looking for a luxury home in the U.S. or internationally, we recommend checking out their luxury home listings. If you need agents who speak multiple languages or are seeking properties internationally, this is a good option for you. You may find with you're looking for with KW, but if you want more options, we suggest browsing with another company.
Was this content helpful?
thumb_up Yes thumb_down No

Star Rating

info

2.2

star star star_border star_border star_border

104 Reviews

Review Breakdown

5 grade

26%

4 grade

6%

3 grade

2%

2 grade

5%

1 grade

62%

Sentiment Criteria

Value

star star star_half star_border star_border

Quality

star star star_half star_border star_border

Service

star star star_half star_border star_border

Trustworthiness

star star star_half star_border star_border
cancel

Filter by:

arrow_drop_down

Sort by:

arrow_drop_down
info
star star star_border star_border star_border

Ms. Palatka, FL

In the beginning our realtor was there for us being open to communication and available when we wanted to view a property. Things seemed natural between us and as if they truly cared about helping us find a home. We’re half way through purchasing a home and it seems that our realtor no longer has time to follow up with us. For a few weeks our realtor was late to viewings and wouldn’t respond to our messages. There was even a day when we got a message from our realtor asking where we were when they forgot to tell us the time to meet them at the property we wanted to look at. We’ve come to the conclusion that now after settling on a home, we are on our own. Our realtor does not want to make time for us because there simply is no reason to work for us anymore. Our realtor has told us to seek counsel from our lender instead. Even with matters they do not handle. It’s extremely disappointing being dropped and spoken to like we're a nuisance. If give the choice, I would NEVER use or recommend this company or the realtor we used. Even more frustrating is not being able to write their name since we’re in the middle of our closing. Do you research and don’t settle for someone that talks the talk. Hire someone with proven results and testimonials.

4 years ago Edited September 14, 2021

star star star_border star_border star_border

Phillip Talley Jacksonville, FL

AGENT GEORGE B To be fair I used this agent to buy the home I’m selling and there were a couple of problems but his supervisor assured me he was young and still learning so I decided to give him a chance. We are due to close in a few days and it has been a terrible experience. We are getting a fair price but not due to our agent. I still haven’t received signed copies of any paperwork. I wasn’t told that I could negotiate terms of the sale contract and as far as I know my agent still hasn’t signed it yet. At our first meeting I asked how much it it was for him to show the house and was told 2.5%. I was not asked if the house could be shared with other agencies and it was. That’s 2.5% more. I was told a photographer was going to take pictures for the internet and didn’t. He simply posted an old listing with different landscaping and no improvements in or out. Before signing the final the agreement to sale I wanted to know the final $$ amount and my agent said only the total company could give that info and I had to sign the paperwork or they wouldn’t do anything. So after a couple of hours he gave me an estimated amount and I signed. He was off by $6000.00 and I said I wasn’t signing at closing. Threatening lawsuits followed and when I said he wasn’t giving up any of his commission he said he worked hard for his money and more lawsuit threats. Between the Northern Florida Association of Lawyers, the buyers agent and internal help from K&W things finally worked out. He never put up a sign. Listed all old information on line and never showed the house and did nothing to resolve the problems. There’s more of course.

5 years ago

star star star_border star_border star_border

Dissappointed Atlanta, GA

After several unsuccessful multi family unit offers in Georgia realtor Jennifer H H talked me into buying an overpriced condo in Atlanta. She knew going in the condo was overpriced, but did not seem to care. Not only did she not negotiate on my behalf. She didn't even show up to the closing table. She hasn't even followed up with me after the sale and it's been 3 months. Do realtors only want make sales and not build relationships with clients? Maybe I have it all wrong and she only wanted to make a sale. Definitley will not use here for my next purchase in the next few months.

5 years ago

star star star_border star_border star_border

Susan Heyduk Philadelphia, PA

I like the women but she sent her assistant to our showing I only saw her once .The assistant doesn't give us information on the homes. Last showing we wanted see was cancel I wasn't informed until last minute no call no text. I had call very upset.

1 year ago

star star star_border star_border star_border

Doug Foerch Libertyville, IL

Very disappointing after all the hype surrounding Amy K. She never even introduced herself to us. She handed off our house to another staff member, who was well below average in his knowledge, work ethic and reachability. Not to mention they charge more than the average realtor.

2 years ago