David R. Melton
Founder, Melton Advisors
From the Desk of David Melton
Most dealer principals have built something significant. What they often lack is an advisor who can tell them exactly what they have — and what to do with it.
I founded Melton Advisors on a simple premise: the dealers and investors who control their outcomes are the ones who started thinking deliberately before pressure existed.
After more than 40 years in the dealership business — including my tenure as a dealership COO — I work exclusively on the buy side of the automotive market. I advise growing dealer groups on acquisitions and connect sophisticated investors to automotive real estate opportunities that perform the way their other NNN assets do — without the volatility.
Real estate is the thread that runs through everything I do. It's how I evaluate acquisitions. It's how I structure investments. It's what most advisors in this space overlook entirely.
If you're a dealer group looking to grow, an investor looking for automotive NNN exposure, or a dealer who simply wants to know what their real estate is worth before any conversation starts — that's exactly where this begins.
David R. Melton Founder & President, Melton Advisors
423-421-2622 | dm@meltonadvisors.com | meltonadvisors.com
DEALERHIP ACQUISITIONS
Growing dealer groups need more than a broker who waits for listings. They need an advisor who is already in the market — identifying targets, evaluating real estate as part of every deal structure, and moving at acquisition speed.
I work exclusively on behalf of buyers. Whether you're going from 5 stores to 20 or 20 stores to 50, the acquisition strategy has to account for real estate value, capital structure, and OEM alignment before a deal is ever pursued.
What this typically includes:
Acquisition target identification and evaluation
Real estate underwriting on every deal
Capital structure and financing strategy
OEM approval and transaction coordination
INVESTMENTS
Sophisticated investors have discovered what my partners already know — automotive real estate is one of the most compelling NNN opportunities in the market. A BMW or Mercedes dealership leased to a strong operator on a long-term NNN structure compares favorably to almost any retail alternative.
I identify, evaluate, and structure automotive real estate investment opportunities for investors who want dealership exposure without operating a dealership. The real estate intelligence behind every opportunity comes from our proprietary Dealer's Opinion of Value — an internal underwriting methodology built on 40 years of firsthand market experience.
What this typically includes:
Identification of automotive NNN investment opportunities
Property underwriting and valuation analysis
Sale-leaseback structuring and placement
Investor representation through close
REAL ESTATE ADVISORY
For dealer principals who want to understand what their real estate is worth — confidentially, without triggering rumors — I provide a private real estate assessment that requires no appraiser on site and no disruption to operations.
Most dealers have never had an independent view of their real estate position. That changes every major decision that follows — capital conversations, partner negotiations, acquisition planning, and eventual transitions.
What this typically includes:
Confidential property valuation and market analysis
Sale-leaseback evaluation and structuring
Rent alignment and lease strategy
Real estate positioning ahead of any transaction
ABOUT DAVID MELTON
I serve dealer groups, automotive real estate investors, and dealer principals nationwide — with more than 40 years of firsthand dealership experience, including my tenure as a dealership COO.
That background means I've managed the same decisions my clients are facing. I understand OEM relationships, operational performance pressures, facility requirements, and the capital dynamics that shape every major ownership decision. I'm not a broker with a transaction quota. I'm an advisor who works exclusively on the buy side — with a stake in getting every deal right.
Acquisitions. Real Estate Advisory. Built for dealers and investors who move deliberately.
David R. Melton
“Give me six hours to chop down a tree, and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe.”
– Abraham Lincoln
Let’s Talk
Whether you need consulting or advisory support on your capital structure, real estate, or a future transition, I'd welcome the conversation. No agenda. Completely confidential.