Mixed Use Properties
for Sale & Rent
in Metro Detroit, Ann Arbor, and Chicago
Discover a wide selection of mixed use homes for sale and rent
across the Midwest with Farbman Group.
A mixed-use property combines two or more uses, such as retail, office, residential, or hospitality, inside one development, and that combination is what makes it perform differently than a single-use asset.
Farbman represents mixed-use properties for sale across Metro Detroit, Ann Arbor, and Chicago, and we manage the ones we sell the same way we manage our own, with a tenant mix chosen for how the uses support each other, rather than who signs fastest. Most firms bolt a leasing team onto a management team and call that mixed-use expertise. Farbman has worked this asset class since 1976, so the person walking you through a deal has also handled what happens after closing.
Why Mixed-Use Properties Perform Differently
Diversified revenue is the practical case for mixed-use. If the retail space sits vacant for a quarter, the residential and office rent underneath it keeps cash flowing. Tenant retention tends to run higher too, since a resident who can walk downstairs for coffee or a haircut has a reason to renew that a resident in a standalone apartment building doesn’t.
Fifty-three percent of Americans say they’d prefer to live somewhere walkable, according to a National Association of Realtors survey, and mixed-use development is one of the few asset types built around that preference. None of this comes automatically. A mixed-use appraisal is harder than a single-use one, since an appraiser has to underwrite the retail and the residential income separately and then explain how they interact.
Vertical vs. Horizontal Mixed-Use
Mixed-use comes in two basic shapes. Vertical mixed-use stacks uses inside one building, retail on the ground floor with apartments or offices above it. Horizontal mixed-use spreads them across a site instead, separate buildings for separate uses connected by shared parking or a walkable plan. Farbman has brokered and managed both, and the right shape usually comes down to the site’s zoning and its footprint, not a developer’s preference.
How Farbman Manages a Mixed-Use Property
A retail tenant needs different hours, different foot traffic, and a different service response time than the residential tenant living above it. Farbman’s property management group runs the retail lease renewals, the residential turnover, and the shared-space maintenance as one operation, since splitting the work between departments is usually where something falls through the gap.
Mixed-Use Real Estate in Metro Detroit, Ann Arbor, and Chicago
Detroit’s mixed-use activity is concentrated where residential demand outpaces the existing retail base, downtown and Midtown corridors especially. Ann Arbor’s mixed-use stock skews toward the university market, where ground-floor retail supports the students and staff living above it. Chicago adds density and price per square foot to the equation, which changes the math on what tenant mix actually pencils. Farbman tracks all three markets from the same desk, not three separate offices reading each other’s reports secondhand.
Consulting with our team can help you find the right fit for your business goals.
Other Commercial Properties for Rent
Farbman Group offers various rental properties throughout the Midwest, catering to multiple industries. Our full list of commercial properties includes:
- Office Spaces: Farbman Group provides contemporary and flexible office spaces customized to suit businesses’ needs, fostering a professional atmosphere conducive to productivity and achievement.
- Medical: Our portfolio features cutting-edge medical facilities equipped with advanced amenities and specialized infrastructure to facilitate healthcare professionals in delivering superior patient care.
- Retail: From bustling shopping centers to inviting storefronts, Farbman Group’s properties boast prime locations and dynamic spaces crafted to draw in customers and stimulate business expansion.
- Student Housing: Farbman Group offers cozy and convenient living accommodations for college students, fostering a supportive community environment that promotes academic excellence and personal development.
- Industrial: Our industrial properties provide versatile spaces for manufacturing, warehousing, and distribution, featuring convenient access to transportation routes and ample amenities to support efficient operations.
- Multi-Family: Our multi-family residences provide diverse living options, including cozy apartments and spacious townhomes, ensuring residents enjoy comfortable and convenient living in sought-after Midwest locations.
Farbman Group has the ideal property to meet your needs, whether you’re in search of office space or specialized housing options. With our prime locations and amenities, we are your trusted partner for finding the perfect property to support your business or lifestyle in the Midwest region.
Properties Throughout the Midwest: Our Locations
With offices strategically placed in nine locations, Farbman Group is well-positioned to serve clients throughout the Midwest region. Our expansive presence allows us to provide personalized service and local expertise to businesses and residents seeking rental properties in these dynamic markets. We have offices in the following locations:
- Southfield, MI – Headquarters
- Bingham Farms, MI
- Chicago, IL
- Northbrook, IL
- Columbus, OH
- Detroit, MI
- Elk Grove, IL
- Troy, MI
Our team is committed to helping you find the right property, whether you need a retail storefront or an industrial warehouse. With our extensive network of resources, Farbman Group is your partner for navigating the real estate landscape in the Midwest.
Find the Perfect Mixed Use Property
Farbman Group can help national brands expand or local entrepreneurs start their mixed use property leasing. Our team knows the Midwest well, including important trends, demographics, and consumer behavior, all to find the best locations for your business.
Local Expertise
With a dedicated emphasis on Detroit and Chicago, Farbman Group possesses vast experience throughout the Midwest. This enables us to identify the perfect locations for your mixed use property, aligning with your target audience and growth objectives.
Unrivaled Service
Farbman Group extends beyond property listings; we act as your trusted advisor, providing personalized guidance and ongoing support throughout the leasing or sales journey.
Comprehensive Solutions
We address various requirements, such as site selection, market analysis, lease negotiation, demographic research, and transaction management. Moreover, we offer valuable insights into current market trends, rental rates, and competitor analysis, ensuring well-informed decision-making.
National Network
As part of a national network of industry leaders, Farbman Group leverages our vast connections to provide access to a broader spectrum of opportunities for our clients.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a mixed-use property?
Retail, office, residential, and hospitality space share one roof or one site in a mixed-use property, rather than each use getting its own separate building. The uses share infrastructure like parking and utilities, and in the better examples they also share foot traffic. The retail tenant benefits from residents walking past every day, and the residents benefit from having a coffee shop or dry cleaner downstairs instead of a ten-minute drive. Mixed-use development is the broader term for the practice of building this way, and it’s often used interchangeably with mixed-use property.
What is the difference between mixed-use and multi-family properties?
A multi-family property is entirely residential. Whether it’s a six-unit walk-up or a 200-unit complex, every lease in the building is a housing lease. A mixed-use property adds at least one non-residential use into that mix, usually retail or office space on the ground floor, which changes the underwriting, the management approach, and the zoning requirements compared to a straight multi-family deal. Farbman handles both asset types, and the two rarely get evaluated with the same checklist.
Is a mixed-use property a good investment?
It depends more on tenant mix and management than on the asset type itself. A mixed-use property with the wrong tenant combination, like retail next to light industrial instead of retail next to residential, underperforms a straightforward single-use building every time. Farbman has been evaluating those combinations since 1976, manages more than 27 million square feet across our own portfolio and our clients’, and brings the resources of NAI Global to every deal. As both a property owner and a third-party manager, we underwrite mixed-use the way an owner would, weighing the same operating costs and tenant risk we’d take on ourselves.
Contact Farbman Group Today
For expert guidance and personalized assistance with your real estate needs, contact Farbman Group today. Our team delivers unmatched service throughout the leasing or sales process. With our extensive network, Farbman Group will assist you in finding the ideal mixed use property for you.