Oxford Companies doubles size with Arch Realty acquisition

Oxford Companies made a big acquisition over the last year, buying Arch Realty.

The two Ann Arbor-based companies were well-known quantities in local real-estate circles. Oxford for commercial realty and Arch Realty for off-campus student housing in Ann Arbor. Oxford rebranded Arch Realty to Oxford Property Management with the acquisition.

"We essentially doubled in size when we acquired Arch Realty," says Deborah Pearson, director of marketing for Oxford Companies.

The 15-year-old firm now employs 50 people, adding up to 10 people over the last year for administrative and property management work. The company is also looking to hire a COO within the next few weeks.

Oxford Companies has also raised a $4 million investment fund over the last year. The company expects to use it as an "opportunity fund" to acquire local properties or businesses in the Ann Arbor area in 2014.

"The money we have available right now is available for residential or commercial properties," says Andrew Selinger, investment analyst for Oxford Companies.

Selinger and Pearson says Oxford Companies admired the Zingerman's philosophy of doing business, i.e. staying locally focused by creating side businesses under one large brand. They would like to do the same thing with real-estate in the Washtenaw County area, focusing on quality work instead of growth for growth’s sake.

That point of view allowed Oxford Companies to be named as one of Ann Arbor SPARK's Fast Track award winners this year. Winning companies receive the awards for its consistent growth. FastTrack companies need to have revenue of at least $100,000 in 2009, with a verified annual growth of 20 percent for the following three years.

Source: Deborah Pearson, director of marketing for Oxford Companies and Andrew Selinger, investment analyst for Oxford Companies
Writer: Jon Zemke

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