First Martin

What First Martin does

First Martin Corporation (First Martin, Inc.) is a privately held, full-service commercial real estate firm founded in 1968 by Bill Martin and headquartered at 115 Depot Street, Ann Arbor, Michigan. The company develops, owns, leases, and manages a portfolio of more than 40 properties across Ann Arbor spanning office, retail, industrial, multifamily residential, laboratory/research, and hospitality asset classes. Its tenant roster includes Google, Cisco, Toyota (Woven-by-Toyota), the University of Michigan, Morgan Stanley, the United States Environmental Protection Agency, SRI International, Kroger, the Ann Arbor SPARK economic development organization, and multiple regional banks (Bank of Ann Arbor, Bank of America, Comerica, UM Credit Union), as well as the AC Marriott Hotel Ann Arbor Downtown developed in partnership with First Hospitality and opened in March 2026.

The company's core business is the long-term ownership and direct leasing of commercial space to corporate, institutional, retail, and residential tenants in the Ann Arbor market, supplemented by a build-to-suit development service that allows tenants to commission purpose-built facilities at sites including the Northeast Ann Arbor Traverwood Business Park and the Fifth & Huron and Huron & Ashley ground-up developments. The underlying technology stack is conventional CRE operations: integrated building management systems paired with energy-efficiency retrofits (LED conversions, occupancy sensors, demand control ventilation, variable frequency drives, and water-conservation features such as rain-sensor irrigation). The firm is a member of the Ann Arbor 2030 District and Ann Arbor Main Street and pursues ENERGY STAR-aligned certifications.

First Martin earns revenue primarily through recurring monthly rental income across its owned portfolio, with a sales-led, relationship-based go-to-market in which an in-house team handles leasing, property management, and tenant relations directly. Secondary revenue mechanics include property management services, build-to-suit development fees and lease-up economics, and joint-venture economics from hospitality partnerships such as First Hospitality for the AC Marriott. The firm is privately held by the Martin family (Bill, Michael, and Seth Martin are active in the team) with no external institutional investors identified; it operates an affiliated real-estate investment management arm, Quad Capital Partners, which focuses on build-to-core multifamily investments in university and STEM markets. Leadership lists Michael Martin as President.

Name

First Martin

Legal name

First Martin, Inc.

Website

https://firstmartin.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1968

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

First Martin Corporation is a privately held, full-service commercial real estate firm founded in 1968 in Ann Arbor, Michigan, owning and managing 40+ office, retail, multifamily, lab, and hospitality properties leased to enterprise, institutional, and retail tenants throughout the Ann Arbor market.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Ann Arbor

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Commercial Property Leasing: Long-term leasing of commercial office, retail, and industrial spaces to business tenants. Revenue generated through monthly rent payments from a diverse portfolio of over 40 properties in the Ann Arbor area.
2. Property Management: Ongoing management services for owned properties and potentially third-party properties, including tenant relations, maintenance, and operational services.
3. Hotel Development and Partnership: Joint venture hotel development projects with hospitality partners such as First Hospitality, generating revenue through property appreciation and partnership interests. AC Marriott Hotel Ann Arbor Downtown is a recent example.
4. Build-to-Suit Development: Custom development of properties for specific tenants, including land acquisition, construction, and long-term lease arrangements. Sites ready for development are offered throughout the Ann Arbor market.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

First Martin Corporation is a full-service commercial real estate firm that develops, leases, and manages a portfolio of more than 40 properties in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Offerings span office, retail, industrial, laboratory and research, multifamily residential, and hospitality assets, supplemented by custom build-to-suit development and ongoing property management services. The company has operated continuously since 1968 and runs an affiliated investment management firm, Quad Capital Partners.

Product overview

First Martin Corporation is a full-service commercial real estate firm based in Ann Arbor, Michigan, operating as a single unified platform rather than a modular product architecture. The company offers a diverse portfolio of commercial real estate products including office properties (Class A and B buildings across multiple Ann Arbor locations), retail spaces (including Traver Village Shopping Center), multifamily residential communities (Homestead Commons Apartments, Oakcliff Apartments, Mill Creek Townhouses), laboratory/research facilities (2900 Huron Pkwy), and build-to-suit development services. The company also manages the Ann Arbor Innovation District at 2001 Commonwealth Blvd targeting technology and innovation tenants. Through its leasing, management, and development operations, First Martin provides comprehensive property management services. The company also has an affiliated real estate investment management firm, Quad Capital Partners, specializing in university and STEM market multifamily investments.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Quad Capital Partners: Real estate investment management affiliate of First Martin Corporation. Specializes in the university and STEM markets, focusing on build-to-core multifamily investments both directly and with local partners.

Products and services

• Commercial Office Properties Office space leasing and management across multiple Ann Arbor locations including Class A and Class B buildings for various business sizes; serves corporate, technology, research, financial services, and government tenants.
• Retail Properties

Quantifiable outcome

• Successfully developed AC Marriott Hotel Ann Arbor Downtown - 6-story, 81,745 sq ft property with 139 guest rooms and solar panel array generating over 50 kWh per day
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers17 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• First HospitalitycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 24 March 2026First Martin Corp. and First Hospitality collaborated on the development of the AC Marriott Hotel Ann Arbor Downtown at 310 E. Huron St. This partnership developed the first AC Hotel in Ann Arbor and fourth in Michigan, a six-story, 81,745-square-foot hotel property.
• Ann Arbor Innovation DistrictminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFirst Martin participates in the Ann Arbor Innovation District initiative, developing properties like 2001 Commonwealth Blvd and 2311 Green Rd that support innovation and technology companies in the Ann Arbor ecosystem.
• Ann Arbor 2030 DistrictminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFirst Martin is a member of the Ann Arbor 2030 District, supporting sustainability and energy efficiency goals for commercial buildings in the Ann Arbor area.
• Ann Arbor Main StreetminorOthersFirst Martin is a member of Ann Arbor Main Street, supporting downtown commercial district initiatives and beautification efforts.
• Martin Family FoundationcoreOthersThe Martin Family Foundation is the private family foundation of First Martin's founder. Since 1968, it has supported non-profit organizations and local programs through donations, in-kind donations, and grants focused on positive community impact.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• CF Capital Group: Grand Rapids, Michigan-based commercial real estate investment and management firm operating office, retail, and multifamily assets in Michigan and adjacent states. Comparable as a Michigan-focused full-service CRE firm with ownership, leasing, and property management capabilities.
• The Marquette Companies: Michigan-based commercial real estate investment and management firm owning office, retail, multifamily, and mixed-use assets in the Midwest. Comparable as a Michigan-rooted owner/operator with similar asset-class breadth and university-adjacent exposure.
• Signature Associates: Southfield, Michigan-based commercial real estate brokerage and management firm focused on office, industrial, retail, and investment properties across Michigan. Comparable as a Michigan full-service CRE firm providing leasing, property management, and tenant-rep services similar to First Martin's offerings.
• Grand Sakwa Properties: Farmington Hills, Michigan-based commercial real estate developer and investor focused on office, retail, mixed-use, and hospitality assets in Michigan and the Midwest. Comparable as a long-standing Michigan owner/developer with similar asset class mix and build-to-suit capability.
• McKinley: Ann Arbor-based real estate investment and management firm owning and operating commercial, multifamily, and student-housing properties across Michigan and beyond. Directly comparable as a Michigan-rooted, vertically integrated owner/operator with overlapping office and multifamily holdings and university-adjacent focus.
• Lormax Stern: West Bloomfield, Michigan-based commercial real estate developer and owner with deep metro-Detroit and Ann Arbor presence, focused on office, retail, industrial, and multifamily. Comparable as a long-tenured Michigan owner/developer competing for similar institutional tenants and build-to-suit mandates.
• Redico: Southfield, Michigan-based real estate development and investment company owning office, retail, mixed-use, and hospitality assets across Michigan and the Midwest. Comparable as a Michigan-rooted owner/developer competing for similar institutional tenants and development sites.
• Broder & Sachse Real Estate Services: Southfield, Michigan-based full-service commercial real estate firm specializing in development, leasing, and management of office, retail, and industrial properties. Directly comparable as a Michigan full-service CRE firm offering build-to-suit and property management like First Martin.

Broad incumbents

• Highwoods Properties: Publicly traded REIT (NYSE: HIW) focused on Class A/A- office properties in select Sun Belt and Midwest business districts. Comparable as a larger office-focused owner competing for the same corporate-tenant pool that anchors First Martin's Traverwood and Commonwealth portfolios.
• Phillips Edison & Company: Publicly traded net-lease REIT (NASDAQ: PECO) owning grocery-anchored shopping centers across the U.S., including Michigan. Comparable as a retail-portfolio owner overlapping with First Martin's Traver Village Shopping Center and other retail holdings, though operating at much greater scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/FirstMartinCorp
• Facebookfacebook.com/FirstMartinCorp
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/4983711

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about First Martin