The Nelson Companies was founded by David Robert Nelson in 1970. It is a vertically integrated multi-disciplined real estate development company that provides real estate brokerage and property management services for its own developments.

In today's world of fee developers, real estate investment trusts and sydicators, The Nelson Companies is unique. It has developed real estate primarily for its own portfolio. On occasion, it will joint venture with land owners, retailers, lenders or other real estate developers, but its goal is always the same -- to develop quality real estate for long term appreciation.

The Nelson Companies' operating structure is designed around a group of related, but independent companies that develop, build, manage, lease and/or sell property in Nelson created developments:

The Nelson Companies has acquired the skills to locate the right real estate development opportunity, and once found, know how to achieve its highest and best use. The company never has a preconceived notion of what is the best way to achieve a real estate development's highest and best use; they have a willingness to explore all the possibilities. And by working with the best architects, engineers and other professionals, The Nelson Companies has been able to create real estate investments of extraordinary value.

No matter how good a development idea sounds, until it is researched and a market proven, it is only a dream. A developer must first define the market before it builds the development. And whenever possible, it designs a development to meet the market today as well as tomorrow because as we all know, markets are dynamic not static; therefore, the smart developer designs developments that are flexible enough to meet the ever changing world we live in.

Simply put, in an ever-changing world a real estate development must have, within its specific use, the ability to respond to a dynamic market. This process is known as "market responsive" rather than "market directive" development. Therefore, The Nelson Companies, working closely with their architects, designs developments with flexibility built in not added on.

Equally important, The Nelson Companies designs each development to fit into the community in which it is built. It creates environments that tend to be very human in scale.

The key to any company's success is its ability to market its goods and services. In real estate this process is known as "brokerage". The Nelson Companies recognizes the importance of marketing and they cooperate with the brokerage community so as to achieve the best balance of tenants and purchasers.

Nelson Properties Incorporated, a licensed Michigan real estate broker, assures The Nelson Companies direct access to the marketplace and also assures that the marketing effort is exclusive to its properties and everyone connected with the marketing effort is trying its utmost to achieve the marketing goals set forth in the marketing and/or merchandising plan.

Based on Nelson Properties' reputation for results, it has, on selected occasions, provided real estate brokerage services to others on a fee basis. However, unlike other real estate brokerage firms, Nelson Properties never provides services to two developments in the same marketplace; as Nelson Properties knows that no servant can serve two masters.

The Nelson Companies has learned that no one cares about a development as much as the owner does; therefore, Nelson Properties is also a management company.

It manages each residential or commercial development as if it was the only development. Most of all, it works at meeting budgets and maintaining the properties' value - not just collecting rents.

A company is comprised of individuals who, given direction and leadership, a sense of cohesion and purpose, will act together to achieve common goals. Notwithstanding the distinct personalities of its employees and the divisions of corporate endeavor, The Nelson Companies is a successful real estate development company because it is the sum total of its employees and executives as well as their advisors and consultants. What we are...is a team!