David R. Melton:
Acquisition Advisor
40+ Years of Automotive Experience
From the Desk of David Melton
I serve as a trusted advisor to auto dealers, helping them navigate some of the most important decisions of their careers. My focus is on guiding dealers through buy-side acquisitions, strategic growth planning, and real estate structuring that strengthen operations, unlock capital, and position businesses for long-term success.
With over 40 years of experience in the automotive industry, including my tenure as a dealership COO, I understand the unique pressures of ownership. I’ve lived the balance between daily performance and the bigger picture of enterprise value, and I know how critical timing, negotiation, and deal structure are when acquiring new stores, expanding a platform, or repositioning real estate.
Whether you are actively pursuing acquisitions, consolidating your footprint, or utilizing tools like sale-leasebacks and 1031 exchanges to drive growth, I work closely with you to ensure every decision advances your financial and strategic objectives. My role is to protect your equity, structure deals with precision, and deliver outcomes that build lasting value for your dealership group.
Every engagement is personal, confidential, and results-driven—providing dealers with the clarity and confidence to move forward, knowing their growth strategy is aligned for both immediate impact and long-term success.
Aquisition Advisory for Auto Dealers
What It Means to Have a Buy-Side Advisor
As your dedicated Acquisition and Growth Advisor, we represent you — the buyer. Our role is to ensure every opportunity is carefully vetted, strategically positioned, and structured to align with your long-term growth objectives. From sourcing targets to closing transactions, Pointe Automotive is your partner in achieving both achievable and profitable dealership growth.
Our Buy-Side Support Includes:
Target Identification & Screening – Sourcing on- and off-market opportunities that fit your franchise, market, and growth strategy.
Financial & Real Estate Due Diligence – Evaluating both the business and property to ensure a sound, capital-efficient acquisition.
Valuation Support & Deal Modeling – Providing accurate analysis to structure offers that maximize value and minimize risk.
Negotiation of Purchase & Lease Terms – Representing your interests with precision to secure favorable deal structures.
Coordination with Advisors – Working seamlessly with your attorneys, CPAs, lenders, and OEM contacts for a smooth transaction.
Post-Closing Integration Guidance – Helping you align people, processes, and property to ensure immediate and lasting success.
Strategic Growth Through Dealership Acquisitions
As a buy-side advisor, we represent you — the buyer. Our role is to ensure that every acquisition opportunity is carefully vetted, strategically positioned, and structured to achieve your long-term objectives. From identifying targets to closing the deal, we are your partner in making growth both achievable and profitable.
Our Buy-Side Support Includes:
Identifying and screening acquisition opportunities
Conducting financial and real estate due diligence
Valuation support and deal modeling
Negotiation of purchase agreements and lease terms
Coordination with attorneys, CPAs, and lenders
Guidance on post-closing integration strategies
Automotive Dealership Real Estate Specialists
For many dealers, sale-leasebacks are a proven way to convert illiquid real estate equity into working capital while maintaining operations from the same location. Under this structure, the property is sold to an investor, and the dealer signs a long-term lease, ensuring stability for both the operator and the investor.
Benefits of Sale-Leasebacks for Dealers:
Unlock immediate liquidity to fund acquisitions, remodels, or expansion
Reduce debt and strengthen the balance sheet
Retain full operational control of the dealership under a customized lease
Attract institutional and private investors seeking stable, long-term returns
We structure sale-leasebacks with terms that protect dealers while delivering competitive valuations to ensure maximum benefit.
About Me
I serve as a trusted Acquisition and Growth Advisor to auto dealers across the U.S., helping them expand through strategic acquisitions and growth planning. My focus is on representing buyers—sourcing opportunities, structuring acquisitions, and aligning the real estate and capital strategies that fuel long-term success.
With over 40 years of experience in the automotive industry, including my tenure as a dealership COO, I bring an operator’s perspective to every engagement. I understand the challenges of balancing day-to-day performance with the bigger picture of enterprise growth. Having sat in the same seat as my clients, I know how to navigate high-stakes decisions with clarity, confidentiality, and precision.
My advisory work is centered around three core areas:
Acquisition Advisory: I assist dealers in identifying and acquiring the right stores, negotiating with precision, and structuring transactions that align with OEM requirements and financial objectives.
Growth Strategy & Succession Planning: I guide dealers through generational transitions and long-term planning, ensuring that equity and legacy are preserved.
Real Estate Advisory: I integrate sale-leasebacks, 1031 exchanges, and bifurcation strategies into acquisitions—unlocking capital while strengthening operational control.
I collaborate closely with CPAs, attorneys, OEM representatives, and estate planners to ensure every acquisition is structured for maximum value. My role is to help dealers grow with confidence, knowing their acquisitions, real estate, and capital strategies are working together to support long-term success.
David R. Melton
“Things may come to those who wait, but only the things left by those who hustle.”
– Abraham Lincoln
Let’s Talk
If you’re considering selling your investment, unlocking equity in your real estate, or planning a strategic exit, I’d be happy to have a confidential conversation.