Blog
News, insights, and success stories from Southeast Michigan's commercial real estate market.
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One Corner, Three Deals, and a Lot of Northville History
A 1950s Chevy dealership, a newspaper, a Ford dealership, and a CrossFit gym. Thomas Duke Company’s Steve Valli looks back at the sale of 560 S Main, the growth in Northville, and why repeat business is the best compliment a broker can get.
The Bigger Picture Behind a Farmington Landmark
A 1912 Farmington landmark that was home to Focal Point Studios for 39 years has found a new purpose. Here’s how a fresh idea turned a hard-to-sell two-story building into downtown luxury apartments with retail below.
A Decade Apart, the Same Building, and an 82% Jump in Value — The Northville Market Story
Eric Szerlag sold 332 E. Main Street in downtown Northville twice. A decade apart, the same building, the same client, and a price per square foot 82% higher the second time around. Here’s what's happening in the Northville market.
19 Years, One Restaurant, and a Deal That Started with My Neighbor
Steve Valli shares the story behind the sale of Gaucho Brazilian Steakhouse in Northville Township, a deal 19 years in the making.
A Year Later: What Real Property Management Looks Like at Sunny Square
One year, one property, a complete transformation. Nicholas Ferris shares what hands-on property management looks like at Sunny Square in Sterling Heights.
More Than a Lease: How USC Built a Space That Works for Their Team
When USC set out to expand into Metro Detroit, they wanted more than an office. They wanted a space that felt like a corporate headquarters, one built to bring them closer to clients and closer to top talent. Here's how Andrew Goble and the Thomas Duke Company team made that happen, from search to move-in.
From Leasing to Owning: How Andrew Goble Helped Northville Ballet Invest in Their Future
A lease that didn't feel right led to a building that did. Here's how Andrew Goble helped Northville Ballet become owners instead of tenants.
Just Sold: How One Ann Arbor Owner Structured a $3.18M Exit
Selling a business and selling the real estate are two different deals. Here's how one Ann Arbor owner, and the right strategy, turned both into a $3.18M exit.
One Call, 27 Years Later
In 1999, we helped a local chiropractor purchase a 3,687-square-foot medical office building at 11837 Merriman Road in Livonia. At the time, it was the perfe…
A 155-Acre Parcel, a Culver’s Deal, and a Domino Effect in Dundee, MI
When a Culver’s franchisee started looking for the right site in Southeast Michigan, it set off a full development corridor. And that’s exactly what Dave Tes…
Five Years of Searching. One Building That Stopped It
When the principals of Stoney Creek Services first came to me, they were ready to stop leasing and start owning. What they weren’t ready to do was settle. Fo…
Buy vs. Build: How a Brighton Client Chose the Smarter Deal
A client came in ready to build a mini storage facility in Brighton. Then a better opportunity showed up. Here's how Ethan Whitesell and John Porth helped a client skip the risk of ground-up development and land a cash-flowing asset instead.