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Hear From Our Team
Car dealerships cover a lot of ground—blue sky, real estate and assets. When it comes time to sell, buy or finance, others focus only on the blue sky and overlook the real estate. Auto Dealership Capital Markets handles the whole package. We bring a seasoned team and the resources of the world’s largest real estate company to realize the greatest value across every dimension. And we have the track record to prove it.
We connect dealers, banks, investors, capital sources and original equipment manufacturers through the full asset cycle of:
- Buy/sell transactions
- Debt and structured finance
- Equity alternatives sourcing
- Real estate disposition, acquisition and financing

Mitchell and his team managed the process by providing the appraiser with the various LOI’s procured during the marketing process offering to purchase the property for the list price… The result was millions of dollars in added value for the real estate!
Our Team
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Our team combines deep industry experience with a hands-on, strategic approach to every engagement. We partner closely with dealership owners to navigate complex transactions, uncover opportunities, and drive strong outcomes. With expertise spanning real estate, operations, and financial analysis, we bring clarity, precision, and a commitment to putting our clients’ interests first.
James Mitchell
An automotive dealership veteran with 28 years of experience in the automotive industry, spanning from retail – James created and managed a chain of used car dealerships, real estate and OEM relations. James has been leading automotive brokerage groups since 2008.
Erin Rice
Erin has been in commercial real estate for over 20 years, with 16 years specializing in automotive dealerships. Prior to brokerage, Erin was a portfolio manager at Capital Automotive Real Estate Services (CARS), where she closed over $250M of sale-leaseback transactions and $1.4B in debt refinancing's.
Tani Saldana
Tani keeps the team running, providing an array of business solutions and services for automotive clientele - including marketing, research and administrative projects.
Danielle Banks
Danielle comes from the office side of commercial real estate, bringing a strong background in marketing and branding. She also handles transaction management and financial underwriting.
Contact Us
James Mitchell
Executive Vice President
Featured Deal
Ultimately, we ended up in contract with a new buyer under better terms. More importantly, Mitchell and his team worked with us all the way through to closing to ensure the economics of the deal held steady. From beginning to end, my team always felt they were in our corner.
Buy/Sell + Financing Transactions
CBRE Dealership Capital represented the Buyer in the purchase of Landmark Honda in Alexandria, VA from the Rosenthal Automotive Group. Rosenthal was represented by Bank of America Securities Inc. Although our team has thoroughly enjoyed working opposite the Buyer in his past purchases of multiple dealerships we exclusively represented for sale, this is the first time we transacted with him as a buyer. The Buyer hired our team because the deal presented multiple real estate challenges, such as the need for additional property for service and storage, as well as the underwriting of an impending image program. Our buy/sell practice, coupled with the largest commercial real estate company in the world, allowed the purchaser to not only secure the real estate necessary to optimize operations after closing, but formulate a bid that ultimately won out in a field of multiple bidders. This purchaser also owns Toyota of Alexandria, VA as well as 13 other dealerships in Maryland.
CBRE Dealership Capital was privileged to work alongside Mike Luca of JLL in exclusively representing Steve Maita in the sale of Maita Chevrolet in Elk Grove, CA. Although Steve had worked with other buy/sell firms in the past, he has come to rely on our team to provide complex real estate solutions. After having completed the sale of the neighboring Ford dealership to Lithia in 2021, we began the conversation with Steve about procuring offers to purchase his Chevrolet dealership in the Elk Grove Auto mall. Fast forward to today, we are pleased to announce the dealership has been purchased by Manuel Prieto, who also owns the Chevrolet dealership in nearby Roseville, CA. Mr. Prieto purchased the dealership assets along with related properties, including a wholesale parts facility and vehicle storage lot.
CBRE Dealership Capital worked closely with the principals of Big Valley Ford (Paul Umdenstock, Darlene Gibbons and Steve Kubitz) to underwrite the value of the blue sky and real estate to ensure the best terms would be met in a competitive bid process. Gee Automotive stood out as the clear choice given its history of fair dealing and family-like treatment of employees. Although Paul and Darlene will be retiring, Steve will join the Gee organization to continue running the Ford store.
CBRE Dealership Capital was pleased to exclusively represent Gary Cohen in the sale of Jerry’s Chevrolet Leesburg to Michelle Radley of the Radley Automotive Group. Located in Leesburg, Virginia, the store represents the second Chevrolet badge in the Radley organization alongside its Chevrolet dealership in Fredericksburg, VA. CBRE fully underwrote the store’s blue sky and real estate before conducting a competitive bid with multiple parties. The Radley Auto Group stood out as the favored party given its exemplary performance with their existing Chevrolet point. Radley purchased the real estate along with the dealership assets.
CBRE Dealership Capital was pleased to exclusively represent John Driebe in the sale of his Mazda and Nissan dealerships in Elk Grove, CA. The deal ensued after a competitive bid process which ensured above-market consideration was given for the blue sky and real estate. Furthermore, we maximized value to Mr. Driebe by structuring a comprehensive property lease with the buyer covering both dealerships, a quick lube center, and a 45,000 sqft body shop.
Real Estate Transactions
CBRE Dealership Capital Markets represented the Lindsay Automotive Group in the lease of the former Fitzgerald Automall property in Wheaton, MD. The 27,000 sqft. building along Georgia Avenue will be the temporary home of Lindsay’s Ford dealership as it undergoes major renovations. Our group was able to negotiate a lease allowing Lindsay to achieve its short- and long-term property goals for the dealership. The transaction is another example of our team’s diverse ability to solve complex real estate problems common in buy/sells, financings, and facility projects. Congratulations to the Lindsay team!
B. CBRE Dealership Capital Services exclusively represented the 2Auto Group in arranging sale-leaseback financing for its buy/sell of Max Hyundai and Max Ford in Manhattan, KS. Our team worked closely with 2Auto’s principal, Jordan Peterson, in delivering multiple parties interested in purchasing the real estate alongside 2Auto’s purchase of the dealership assets. Choosing the right landlord-partner was critical because not only did 2Auto need to ensure the terms were competitive, but could also pull off the transaction in a very tight time frame. Capital Automotive Real Estate Services stood out from the other bidders to deliver on both terms and timing.
Historic Transations
Related Insights
- External Article
Brandon Steven Motors Acquires 12 Southern Maryland Dealerships in 500M Deal
April 16, 2026
Brandon Steven Motors expands its national footprint with a landmark $500M acquisition of 12 Southern Maryland dealerships, signaling major growth in the Mid-Atlantic auto market.
- External Article
In a half-billion-dollar ‘luck of a deal,’ Brandon Steven buys 12 new dealerships
April 16, 2026
Brandon Steven Motors’ latest dealership acquisitions push projected annual revenue beyond $2.5 billion, highlighting rapid expansion and dominance in the automotive retail industry.
- External Article
Brandon Steven Motors snags $500M dealership portfolio in Southern Maryland
April 16, 2026
Brandon Steven Motors snags $500M dealership portfolio in Southern Maryland
- External Article
Top 150 auto retailer Brandon Steven Motors buys 12 Maryland dealerships, betting on new market
April 15, 2026
In a nearly half-billion-dollar transaction, one of the country's largest private auto retailers has acquired most of another group in a continued sign of dealership consolidation
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Dirt first, blue second: 5 steps to realize full value from auto dealership buy/sells
October 25, 2023
Most auto dealership buy/sells leave money on the table. How can you avoid transaction missteps? An expert digs into a dirt-first approach to valuing dealerships, with insights on cash calculations, tax tactics, appraisal approaches and more.
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- External Article
CBRE Taps Cushman & Wakefield Execs to Drive Auto Dealership Business
January 9, 2023
CBRE hired two new executives to steer its automotive dealership business, Commercial Observer has learned.