Real estate brokerage is all about timing. You need experienced commercial real estate brokers and agents who understands your needs and knows the market to help you act at a decisive moment. There are so many factors to consider when buying, developing, or investing in real estate, and First American has the experience to quickly assess a situation and guide you through the process. Trust our instincts.
1960 — The Beginning
A San Antonio Family Business
In 1960, Guy Hughes founded Guy Hughes Builder, a family homebuilding business later continued by his son, Guy W. Hughes. The business began by building homes for military families returning from service and grew into residential construction and subdivision development in San Antonio. Those beginnings in homebuilding and development laid the foundation for a family business that would continue to evolve across generations.
1975 — A New Direction
From Homebuilding to Commercial Real Estate
Dale Kane, son-in-law of Guy Hughes, joined the family business in 1975.
As Dale became more involved, the company expanded beyond homebuilding and land development into commercial real estate, investment and oil and gas ventures, eventually operating as San Antonio Resources Company.
1987 — First American Realty
A New Partnership Takes Shape
Dale Kane and Brett Baillio first met through a real estate transaction in 1981. Both already established in the industry, they quickly developed a friendship and stayed connected as their respective businesses grew. Following the real estate downturn of 1986, Dale and Brett decided to join forces. In 1987, Brett joined San Antonio Resources Company, and together they established First American Realty.
Nearly four decades later, Brett remains a partner in the firm, now working alongside his son, Matthew Baillio, who joined the firm in 2006.
1996 — DirtDealers
A Name That Caught On
As the internet began changing the way businesses marketed themselves, Dale and Brett set out to establish an online identity for First American Realty. With many of the obvious domain names already taken, they spent a day brainstorming something that captured what they actually did.
After a few drinks and plenty of ideas, they broke it down to something simple: they dealt in dirt. DirtDealers.com was born. Thirty years later, the name has become synonymous with First American and remains part of the company’s identity today.
2000 — The Next Generation
Carrying the Legacy Forward
J. Landon Kane joined First American in 2000, working alongside his father, Dale, and becoming the fourth generation of the family to enter real estate and development.
Landon had been learning the business from his father long before officially joining the firm. With a natural instinct for land and development, he quickly made his own mark while absorbing the market knowledge, relationships and experience Dale had built over decades.
That foundation has allowed him to carry his father’s legacy forward and help guide First American into its next generation.
2007 — First American Commercial Property Group
Built for What Came Next
By the 2000s, First American’s work had expanded across commercial land, development and investment, representing landowners, builders, developers and investors throughout San Antonio and surrounding growth corridors.
The firm’s experience extended beyond traditional brokerage, drawing on decades of knowledge in land development, utilities, development regulations, market demand and future land use to help clients evaluate opportunities.
In 2007, First American Realty became First American Commercial Property Group, a name that better reflected the firm’s expanding commercial real estate focus and capabilities.
While the name evolved, its foundation remained the same: land, relationships and a deep knowledge of the San Antonio market.
Today — The Story Continues
A Partnership Built to Last
From its beginnings in homebuilding and residential development to commercial land transactions throughout one of the country’s fastest growing metropolitan areas, First American’s story has always been closely connected to the growth of San Antonio.
Today, First American Commercial Property Group is led by partners Brett Baillio, Landon Kane, Mellick Sykes, Craig Scott, Matthew Baillio, Brodie Lowrey and Skip Lietz, together with a team of agents specializing in commercial land, development, investment and brokerage.
Our history gives us perspective. Our relationships give us reach. And our knowledge of the land helps us see what comes next.
Meet Our Team