Founded in 1962, SouthGate Companies is a privately owned real estate investment and property management firm headquartered in Iowa City, Iowa. We develop, acquire, and manage a diversified portfolio of approximately 1,000 residential units, four commercial condominium associations, and more than 300,000 square feet of commercial space across Iowa.
Our residential portfolio includes apartments, townhomes, and condominiums throughout Iowa City and the surrounding communities. On the commercial side, we own and operate retail centers, office space, and industrial properties in Iowa City, Coralville, and the broader Eastern Iowa corridor.
SouthGate is locally owned and operated — our team lives and works in the communities we serve. That local presence means we’re invested in more than buildings. We’re invested in neighborhoods. We maintain high standards across our portfolio because the condition of our properties directly shapes the quality of life for our tenants and the vitality of the communities around them.
With over six decades of experience, SouthGate combines the institutional discipline of a professional real estate operator with the responsiveness and accountability that come from local ownership. We take a long-term view — acquiring and improving properties to build lasting value for our tenants, our communities, and our investors.
SouthGate Companies traces its humble beginnings to Polish immigrant David Braverman, who started a business selling melons out of the back of a horse-drawn wagon. That business grew into a grocery store and ultimately Hawkeye Foods.
As Braverman’s business grew, he began to invest in real estate in Iowa City. In 1962, SouthGate was officially born. For decades it was owned and led by the Braverman family as a family-run business.
SouthGate Companies has developed more than 600,000 square feet of commercial real estate including build-to-suit properties, turnkey sales, and multi-tenant facilities. Today, SouthGate manages over 300,000 square feet of office, retail, and industrial space along with four commercial condominium associations.
On the residential side, SouthGate has developed more than a dozen subdivisions and over 1,000 apartments, condominiums, townhomes, and single-family residences. Today, SouthGate manages approximately 1,000 residential units including apartments, townhomes, and condominiums in Iowa City, Coralville, and the surrounding communities.
In 2019, SouthGate Companies was acquired by Hillcrest Holdings, a Midwest-based, family-owned holding company that invests in privately held middle-market businesses in the United States. Its businesses operate in the transportation, insurance, real estate, and IT services industries. Hillcrest’s mission is to support the continued growth and success of its portfolio businesses while diversifying into new industries through long-term equity investments in growing companies that share its values of stewardship, hard work, empowering employees, and giving back to the community.
Starting in 2023, SouthGate expanded its investment strategy by partnering with outside capital partners to accelerate portfolio growth. Drawing on over 60 years of local market expertise and a proven track record in acquisition, development, and property management, SouthGate serves as the operating sponsor on each investment — sourcing opportunities, executing business plans, and managing assets throughout the hold period. We welcome relationships with investors who share our long-term approach and commitment to creating value in residential and commercial real estate markets across the Midwest.
