Former MLB Player Mike Mendoza Leaves Keller Williams After 29 Years to Join eXp Luxury
The 6,500-transaction real estate veteran helped grow Keller Williams’ Northwest Region. Now, he says eXp offers more opportunity for his son, his team, and their future together.
Mendoza’s career started on the baseball diamond, not in an office. Drafted by the Houston Astros right out of high school in 1973, he played ten years of professional ball – pitching in the major leagues by 1979.
When he retired from playing in 1983, the Seattle Mariners offered him a coaching job. He turned it down to take control of his own timeline and career path. That pivot led him straight into real estate.
That same year, he snagged his real estate license in June, won Rookie of the Year at Century 21 in December, and quickly became a top producer. Next, he joined Realty Executives, where he spent 11 years as a consistent top producer and was twice named the company’s No. 1 producing agent internationally.
Building Keller Williams
By 1997, Mendoza made the jump to Keller Williams. The Mendoza Team immediately took the top production spot for four straight years. His influence soon expanded well beyond his own production.
As the founder and former Operating Principal of the Keller Williams Northwest Region, Mike helped expand the region to more than 3,500 agents. Along the way, he was instrumental in opening 30 Market Center franchises throughout Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and Alaska.
His work earned him the Keller Williams International Entrepreneur of the Year award in 2007. He was also featured in the original edition of Gary Keller’s The Millionaire Real Estate Agent as one of the country’s top-producing agents.
Back home in Arizona, Mike was named the No. 1 top producer by the Southeast Valley Regional Association of REALTORS® 10 times.
That history makes his decision to leave Keller Williams especially significant. Mike helped grow the company, built a major business within it, and stayed for nearly three decades. His move to eXp reflects where he sees the strongest possibilities for the next phase of The Mendoza Team.
Why the Mendoza Team Is Joining eXp
Mendoza’s next step includes the people who have helped turn his career into a family business. Joining him at eXp are his wife and business partner, Jude Mendoza, and his son, Josh Mendoza. Agents Rob Castellini, Cheryl Kvasnicka, Megan Bradley, Brad Turk, and Taylor Turk are also making the move.
Together, they form the Ahwatukee-based Mendoza Team, serving residential and luxury clients throughout Phoenix, the Valley, and surrounding metro areas. Mendoza’s decision considered where each of them could continue building their careers.
“There is more opportunity for me, my son Josh, and the rest of our team with eXp,” Mendoza said.
Longtime real estate friends Lou Ronayne and Gene Frederick introduced Mendoza to the company. As he learned more about eXp, the more he saw what resources could help the team adapt as the industry continues to change.
“It’s a cutting-edge company with technology that is also focused on agent support,” Mendoza said. “I like the forward-looking mentality to help agents grow and succeed in a constantly shifting industry.”
The Mendoza Team officially joined eXp Realty in July of 2026. For Mendoza, the decision gives his family and team a new place to pursue the opportunities ahead while continuing to serve the Arizona market they have built their business around.
