Pointe Automotive Announces 2026 Buy-Sell Expansion Led by Industry Veteran David Melton
Chattanooga, TN — December 11, 2025 — Pointe Automotive, a national leader in Automotive M&A and Real Estate Advisory Services, announced today a series of upcoming initiatives and large-scale dealership transactions scheduled for 2026 under the leadership of David Melton, Managing Principal and one of the industry’s most trusted buy-sell advisors. Backed by more than 40 years of automotive industry expertise, Melton continues to guide dealership owners, investors, and family enterprises through complex transitions, capital strategies, and high-impact real estate decisions.
As both an Automotive M&A Advisor and a licensed real estate broker, Melton occupies a unique position within the dealership buy-sell ecosystem. His dual expertise enables Pointe Automotive to integrate operational valuation, real estate optimization, and strategic transaction structuring into a single, streamlined advisory platform. This combination of competencies has fueled a surge in demand for the firm’s services, positioning Pointe Automotive as a leading partner for dealership groups across all 50 states.
A National Advisor in a Transforming Buy-Sell Market
The automotive retail industry continues to evolve rapidly in response to shifting consumer demand, electric vehicle innovation, OEM consolidation pressures, and cost-of-capital changes driven by the Federal Reserve’s monetary policy. As these forces reshape dealership economics, many owners are reevaluating succession plans, growth targets, and long-term strategies.
Against this backdrop, Melton and the Pointe Automotive team have been selected to oversee several large dealership transactions scheduled for 2026, including multi-point group exits, partner buyouts, and strategic acquisitions across the Southeast, Midwest, and Mountain West regions. These transactions reflect heightened interest from private capital groups, multi-store operators, and investors seeking to expand their portfolios before next year’s anticipated market shift.
“Dealers across the country are preparing for a pivotal moment in 2026,” said David Melton, Managing Principal at Pointe Automotive. “With interest rate changes, rising consolidation pressures, and stronger capital markets engagement, owners are positioning themselves to maximize value while buyers are pursuing scale. Our role is to provide clarity, structure, and the right strategy—ensuring each client captures the full potential of their business and real estate assets.”
Unmatched Expertise in Sale-Leasebacks and Cap Rate Optimization
Beyond M&A advisory, Melton is widely recognized for his real estate capital markets expertise, especially in the structuring of sale-leasebacks and property repositioning strategies. As a licensed real estate broker specializing in automotive assets, he helps owners convert real estate equity into liquidity while maintaining full operational control of their dealerships.
Sale-leasebacks continue to play a critical role in transaction planning, allowing owners to:
Strengthen balance sheets
Unlock trapped equity for expansion or retirement
Improve tax positioning
Increase business valuation flexibility
Fund acquisitions or partner buyouts
Melton’s approach leverages market cap rate analytics, underwriting trends, and investor demand to determine optimal timing and pricing. By integrating dealership profitability with real estate valuation, he provides a holistic advisory model that few firms can replicate.
“Real estate is often the most overlooked source of value inside a dealership,” Melton added. “By applying strategic cap rate utilization and understanding investor appetite, we routinely help owners uncover seven-figure opportunities they didn’t realize existed. Dealerships are unique commercial assets, and they demand specialized valuation models—not generic real estate math.”
A Single-Source Advisory Platform for Modern Dealership Owners
Pointe Automotive continues to expand its national footprint by offering end-to-end advisory services for both business and real estate components of the dealership transaction. The firm’s integrated model provides dealership owners with a streamlined process supported by confidential market intelligence, valuation expertise, and a network of highly qualified buyers.
Core services include:
Nationwide Sell-Side Advisory for Auto Dealerships
Acquisition Support for Dealer Groups and Private Investors
Strategic Valuation and Market Positioning
Real Estate Capital Structuring and Sale-Leaseback Advisory
Succession Planning and Family Ownership Transitions
Partner Buyouts and Equity Restructuring
Melton’s 40 years of dealership management, COO-level experience, and transactional leadership allow him to speak the operational language of both buyers and sellers—bridging the gap between financial expectations and market realities.
A Strong Pipeline for 2026 and Beyond
With numerous multi-store portfolios and single-point stores already entering pre-market preparation, Pointe Automotive expects 2026 to be one of the most active years in the firm’s history. Interest rate reductions, buyer-side capital availability, and generational transitions among long-time family dealerships are driving unprecedented activity.
These factors, combined with Melton’s leadership, are positioning Pointe Automotive as one of the most respected boutique advisory firms serving the automotive retail and aftermarket sectors.
“Our vision is straightforward,” Melton said. “We want to empower dealership owners—whether they are selling, expanding, or restructuring—to make decisions from a position of strength. When clients succeed, communities benefit, employees thrive, and the industry continues forward with momentum.”
About Pointe Automotive
Pointe Automotive is a national Automotive M&A and Real Estate Advisory firm specializing in dealership buy-sell transactions, sale-leasebacks, valuations, succession planning, and capital strategy. Serving automotive dealers, multi-store groups, private equity investors, and family-owned operations, Pointe Automotive integrates industry expertise with real estate acumen to deliver strategic, confidential, end-to-end advisory solutions.
For media inquiries or to schedule an interview with David Melton, please contact:
Pointe Automotive
423-499-9956
info@pointeautomotive.com
PointeAutomotive.com