David R. Melton:

Auto Dealership Broker

40+ Years of Automotive Experience

From the Desk of David Melton

As the Founder and CEO of Pointe Automotive, I serve as a trusted advisor to auto dealers navigating some of the most important decisions of their careers. My focus is on seller representation, buy-side acquisition support, and dealership real estate services that help owners maximize value, unlock capital, and position their businesses for long-term success.

With more than 40 years of experience in the automotive industry, including my tenure as a dealership COO, I understand the delicate balance between day-to-day operational performance and the underlying value of the business and real estate. Having lived the pressures of ownership, I know firsthand how critical timing, negotiation, and deal structure are when selling a dealership, acquiring a new store, or repositioning real estate.

Whether you’re preparing to sell your dealership, expand through acquisitions, or optimize your real estate strategy with tools like sale-leasebacks or 1031 exchanges, I work closely with you to ensure every decision aligns with your financial goals. My role is to protect your equity, negotiate with precision, and deliver outcomes that create both immediate and long-term value.

Every engagement is personal, confidential, and built around results that matter — providing dealers with the clarity and confidence to move forward, whether they are exiting, expanding, or strategically repositioning their portfolios.

Strategic Advisory for Auto Dealers

What It Means to Have a Sell-Side Advisor

As your sell-side advisor, we represent you exclusively — the seller. Our role is to maximize your dealership’s value, negotiate the strongest terms, and safeguard confidentiality throughout the process. Unlike buyers’ representatives or general brokers, we act solely in your best interest and are committed to securing the outcome you deserve.

Our Sell-Side Support Includes:

  • Comprehensive dealership and real estate valuation

  • Confidential marketing to vetted, qualified buyers

  • Negotiation of purchase terms, working capital, and real estate structure

  • Coordination with CPAs, attorneys, and lenders to streamline the process

  • Guidance through due diligence and closing

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 continuing to operate 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

At Pointe Automotive, we structure sale-leasebacks with terms that protect dealers while delivering competitive valuations to ensure maximum benefit.

About Me

As President of Pointe Automotive, I serve as a trusted Automotive Capital Advisor to owners of auto dealerships and collision centers across the U.S. My focus is on helping clients unlock and preserve value at every stage of their business journey—whether they're preparing for a sale, planning a succession, or restructuring their real estate.

With over 40 years of experience in the automotive industry, including my time as a dealership COO, I understand the complexity of transitions in this sector. I’ve sat in the same seat as my clients, and I know how to guide them through high-stakes decisions with clarity and confidence.

My advisory work is centered around three core areas:

  • M&A Advisory Services: I lead strategic sales, acquisitions, and partner exits—ensuring that business and real estate are aligned for maximum deal value.

  • Succession Planning: I help owners create customized, tax-aware succession strategies—whether transitioning to family members, key managers, or outside buyers.

  • Real Estate Advisory: I provide guidance on sale-leasebacks, bifurcation, and real estate disposition strategies—unlocking equity while maintaining operational control.

I collaborate closely with your CPA, attorney, estate planner, and buy-sell advisor to coordinate every aspect of the transaction well in advance of closing. My role is to make sure that nothing is overlooked—and that no value is left on the table.

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.