David R. Melton:

1031 Exchange Specialists

Retail and Aftermarket

“40+ Years of Automotive Industry Experience”

From the Desk of David Melton

Consultant Services | Founder & CEO, Pointe Automotive

As Founder and CEO of Pointe Automotive, I serve as a trusted Automotive Capital Advisor to owners of auto dealerships, collision centers, and aftermarket businesses nationwide. My focus is on helping clients unlock and preserve wealth through strategic 1031 Exchanges, sale-leasebacks, and investment-grade real estate sales.

With over 40 years of experience in the automotive industry, including my tenure as a dealership COO, I understand the delicate balance between operational performance and asset value. I’ve lived the pressures of ownership, and I know how critical timing, tax strategy, and deal structure are when navigating a transition.

Whether you’re selling your business, preparing for retirement, or simply repositioning your portfolio for future growth, I work closely with you to design a real estate strategy that aligns with your goals. From deferring capital gains through a 1031 Exchange to creating long-term passive income via leaseback, my role is to protect your equity, optimize your outcome, and ensure no value is left on the table.

Every engagement is personal, confidential, and built around delivering results you can see—both now and for the next phase of your business or investment journey.

Strategic Advisory for Auto Dealers

Unlocking Value Through Sale-Leasebacks

A sale-leaseback is one of the most effective ways to unlock frozen equity in your dealership real estate, especially during a buy/sell transaction or ownership transition. I work with owners to sell their real estate to an investor while simultaneously structuring a long-term lease that preserves full operational control.

When I structure a sale-leaseback, my goal is to:

  • Increase total deal value by delivering cash at closing

  • Give buyers the option to acquire the business without the burden of real estate

  • Offer investors stable, long-term income from automotive properties

  • Ensure uninterrupted occupancy and operational continuity for the dealership

From valuation and lease design to sourcing investors and managing closing, I handle every detail discreetly and strategically—with your goals at the center of the process.

Deferring Taxes and Preserving Wealth Through 1031 Exchanges

One of the most powerful tools I use to help auto dealers preserve wealth during a sale is the 1031 Exchange. By reinvesting proceeds from the sale of dealership or collision center real estate into a like-kind property, dealers can defer capital gains taxes—often freeing up hundreds of thousands or even millions in additional capital.

When structured correctly, a 1031 Exchange allows you to:

  • Defer capital gains taxes that would otherwise reduce your net proceeds

  • Reinvest 100% of your equity into income-producing real estate

  • Transition out of active operations and into more passive real estate investments

  • Upgrade into more strategic or diversified assets while maintaining tax efficiency

  • Preserve family wealth through long-term real estate repositioning

I work closely with clients, attorneys, CPAs, and Qualified Intermediaries to structure compliant, time-sensitive exchanges that align with your business goals and investment timeline. Whether you're exiting the business entirely or just repositioning your real estate for retirement or reinvestment, a 1031 Exchange can be a smart, tax-efficient way to move forward.

If you’re considering a sale, let’s talk about how a 1031 strategy could strengthen your outcome. Timing is everything—and early planning makes all the difference.

Strategic M&A Support That Prepares You Before the Deal Closes

A successful dealership sale doesn’t start at the closing table—it starts long before that. As an Automotive Capital Advisor, I provide M&A Support Services designed to align your business, real estate, and tax strategy well in advance of a transaction. I work side-by-side with your CPA, attorney, and buy-sell advisor to ensure that key elements like real estate positioning, lease structures, and 1031 Exchange eligibility are addressed early—so you don’t leave value on the table.

When brought in before a transaction is finalized, I can help you:

  • Evaluate whether a sale-leaseback can increase total deal value and create a cleaner transaction for the buyer

  • Structure leases that enhance real estate value and attract institutional investors

  • Coordinate timing and strategy for 1031 Exchanges, ensuring compliance and maximum tax deferral

  • Separate (bifurcate) business and real estate to give you more exit options and greater control

  • Create a roadmap that aligns tax, legal, and real estate considerations for a seamless transition

By involving me early in the process, you gain an advisor who understands both the operational side of the business and the financial levers that impact value. My role is to protect your interests, maximize your after-tax proceeds, and work in lockstep with your existing advisors to ensure every component of the transaction is aligned—before the letter of intent is signed.

If you’re thinking about selling or stepping back from operations, let’s talk now. Early planning makes all the difference.

About Me

I’m an Automotive Capital Advisor with a strategic advantage rooted in real-world dealership experience. As Founder and CEO of Pointe Automotive, I work exclusively with auto dealership and collision center owners across the country, helping them make informed decisions around complex real estate and operational transitions. With over 40 years of experience in the industry and licensure in all 50 states, I bring the insight of a former dealership COO, combined with the financial expertise of a national capital advisor.

My work centers on three key areas:
1031 Exchanges, Sale-Leaseback Strategies, and M&A Support Services.

As a 1031 Exchange Specialist, I help clients defer capital gains and preserve equity by reinvesting into qualified replacement properties—often converting owned facilities into long-term, income-producing investments. As a Sale-Leaseback Strategist, I unlock frozen capital in real estate by structuring long-term leases that provide liquidity without disrupting operations. Through my M&A Support Services, I work closely with CPAs, attorneys, and buy-sell advisors to ensure that each transaction is tax-efficient, strategically structured, and aligned with long-term goals before it reaches the closing table.

Through Pointe Automotive, I help clients:

  • Execute tax-deferred 1031 strategies to grow wealth and reinvest intelligently

  • Structure sale-leasebacks that create value while maintaining control of the business

  • Align M&A activity with real estate and succession planning for maximum return

  • Coordinate all moving parts with trusted advisors to deliver a seamless transaction

I’ve led hundreds of successful transactions nationwide, and my commitment remains the same: protect confidentiality, deliver expert-level guidance, and ensure that every client walks away with no value left behind.

“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 dealership, unlocking equity in your real estate, or planning a strategic exit, I’d be happy to have a confidential conversation.