Baird & Warner began in 1855, when Lyman Baird came to Chicago during the city's period of rapid growth. The company started with mortgage lending and property management, later expanding into real estate sales as homeownership programs developed. Over time, Baird & Warner added mortgage services and title services, while remaining a family-owned real estate business serving Chicagoland and carrying a long history tied to local homeownership and fair housing efforts.