The Keller Williams Story | Our History

Keller Williams Realty was founded by Gary Keller in 1983 with a unique agent-centric philosophy, prioritizing the needs and success of its agents. Keller's innovative leadership and commitment to management training created a culture where agents actively participate in decision-making through the Agent Leadership Council. Despite early challenges, such as a market downturn in 1986, Keller Williams rapidly grew to become the largest single-office real estate company in Austin and began franchising in 1991, eventually expanding into Canada in 1998. Gary Keller authored "The Millionaire Real Estate Agent" and "Shift," both of which provided valuable models and strategies for real estate success and became bestsellers. Keller Williams continued to innovate by developing KW Command, a comprehensive paperless system for lead management, marketing, and transaction management. This focus on empowering agents with cutting-edge tools and strategies has solidified Keller Williams as a leader in the real estate industry.