Sale-Leasebacks 101: Maximize Your Assets
Sale-Leaseback Advisory for Auto Dealerships
Melton Advisors advises automotive dealers on sale-leaseback and real estate capital strategies as part of a broader capital and ownership planning framework. Our work helps dealers unlock real estate equity, strengthen balance sheets, and improve flexibility—while preserving operational control and long-term optionality.
Our approach is advisory-first and aligned with ownership objectives. Sale-leasebacks are not treated as standalone real estate transactions, but as strategic capital decisions that directly influence enterprise value, liquidity, buyer perception, and long-term control. When evaluated and structured intentionally, real estate monetization can materially improve both near-term flexibility and future outcomes.
Strategic Sale-Leaseback Planning for Dealerships
A dealership sale-leaseback involves selling owned real estate to an investor and leasing it back under a long-term, triple-net structure. At Melton Advisors, sale-leasebacks are evaluated with the dealership enterprise in mind—ensuring lease terms, rent levels, and investor profiles align with operational requirements, OEM standards, and long-term ownership strategy.
Our advisory focus includes:
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Equity Unlocking & Liquidity Planning
Converting owned land and facilities into strategic capital to support acquisitions, debt reduction, balance sheet optimization, or shareholder liquidity—without disrupting operations.
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Operational Control & OEM Alignment
Structuring long-term leases that preserve day-to-day control, support facility requirements, and maintain operational continuity.
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Capital Structure & Balance Sheet Optimization
Improving liquidity, return on invested capital, and transaction readiness through disciplined real estate monetization decisions.
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Predictable Occupancy & Planning Stability
Aligning lease structure and rent discipline to support long-term planning, lender confidence, and future optionality.
Each sale-leaseback is evaluated within the context of the dealer’s broader objectives—not executed for pricing alone.
Learn More
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In today’s dealership environment, capital strategy and real estate decisions are inseparable from long-term outcomes. Melton Advisors provides guidance where real estate intersects with acquisitions, transitions, recapitalizations, or succession planning.
Our advisory work may include:
Sale-leaseback evaluation, structuring considerations, and investor positioning
Pre-transaction planning to align real estate with future buy-sell decisions
Capital redeployment and refinancing analysis
1031 exchange considerations where appropriate to preserve tax efficiency
Our role is to help dealers decide when, how, and if real estate should be monetized—so capital decisions enhance flexibility rather than constrain future options.
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A dealership’s enterprise value is closely tied to its real estate—location, facility quality, lease structure, and long-term occupancy security. Our real estate advisory work is designed to ensure property decisions support enterprise value rather than dilute it.
Advisory support may include:
Dealership real estate valuation and market insight
Rent and cap-rate alignment for long-term planning and readiness
Investor and lease structure analysis
Return-on-equity and capital impact modeling
Coordination with legal, tax, and financial advisors
Melton Advisors does not exist to sell property.
Our role is to ensure dealership real estate performs as a strategic asset within the dealer’s broader capital and ownership framework.
