Blog

News, insights, and success stories from Southeast Michigan's commercial real estate market.

Achieving Above the Threshold
Brokerage November 17, 2021

Achieving Above the Threshold

Can we push the multi-family envelope even more?A recent sale at the Thomas Duke Company answered a resounding Yes! Broker Adam Reid’s sale of a 6-unit apart…

Turning “Never!” into “Yes!”
Brokerage November 4, 2021

Turning “Never!” into “Yes!”

The best sale was so apparent—to us. The property—3.44 acres of vacant land—was on a busy corner in Westland, ideally located for a gas station or car wash. …

When the door closed, it closed hard and fast
Brokerage September 23, 2021

When the door closed, it closed hard and fast

In February 2020, a lending company with whom I have a long, trusting relationship asked me to list a restaurant property they’d received on foreclosure. In …

The Road Less Traveled
Brokerage September 16, 2021

The Road Less Traveled

When a non-profit group asked Mark Szerlag and Jon Norton to list their youth camp facility for sale, the Thomas Duke Company agents saw the 24 rolling acres…

Smooth Move.
Brokerage September 13, 2021

Smooth Move.

Few things make us happier at the Thomas Duke Company than turning a potentially stressful transaction into a smooth move for a client. We do that regularly—…

Above and Beyond. Always.
Brokerage August 24, 2021

Above and Beyond. Always.

Even though it involved multiple properties and a $10M-plus price tag, the deal would have been fairly straightforward—except for the global pandemic. Covid …

Saving the Match
Brokerage August 19, 2021

Saving the Match

It seemed a match made in heaven: a seller and a buyer, both in the same mental health field; the seller, after a long career, ready to downsize, and the buy…

Right In Your Own Backyard
Brokerage July 26, 2021

Right In Your Own Backyard

It might seem surprising, but it’s true: Commercial real estate, done well, is a business based in good listening. A longtime client asked to speak with me. …

HISTORIC TRANSACTION
Brokerage June 9, 2021

HISTORIC TRANSACTION

From the time I was 16 years old and drew it for an architecture class, I’ve loved the grand Victorian home at 39040 Seven Mile in Livonia. Made into a law o…

A New Lease on Life for a Howell Landmark
Brokerage June 8, 2021

A New Lease on Life for a Howell Landmark

It’s been a signature building in downtown Howell since the 1950s, when Citizens Insurance erected it as a company headquarters. At 108,000 square feet, it e…

Playing the Imperfect Hand
Brokerage June 4, 2021

Playing the Imperfect Hand

In February of 2020, Andrew Battersby of the Thomas Duke Company was excited when the owners of the office building at 43940 Woodward reached out asking him …

Hidden in Plain Sight
Brokerage May 14, 2021

Hidden in Plain Sight

The retail space wasn’t listed on any commercial real estate site. Other tenants in the shopping plaza didn’t know it was available for lease. Nor did broker…