Business Details
30 Years
experience
Your Trusted Partner for Real Estate Solutions
Founded in 1996, McWilliams Ballard is a leading real estate marketing, sales, and project development consultancy based in Alexandria, Virginia. We specialize in new-home communities, commercial and multifamily leasing, affordable housing, residential resales, and commercial-to-residential conversions. With a team of 60+ professionals, we operate across 14 states, offering full-spectrum services from market research to settlement execution.Our in-house creative agency supports branding, digital marketing, and campaign development, while our industry relationships with developers, financiers, and design firms ensure tailored solutions for diverse real estate needs. With $16 billion+ in sales and over 40,000 homes sold/leased, we combine decades of experience with innovative strategies to deliver results-driven outcomes for clients nationwide.
Services
New Development Sales
Multifamily Leasing
Commercial-to-Residential Conversions
Residential Resales
Market Research
Creative Branding
Affordable Housing Consulting
Project Development
Details
- Year established: 1996
Highlights and features
- We offer 60+ team members with specialized real estate expertise across 14 states.
- Our $16 billion+ in sales reflects proven success in luxury and mixed-use developments.
- We manage 400+ communities with customized marketing and leasing strategies.
- Our in-house creative agency provides branded campaigns and digital solutions.
- We maintain long-term partnerships with premier developers and financial institutions.
Services
New Development Sales
We provide comprehensive project management for new real estate developments, from conception to closing. Our services include market feasibility studies, community branding, competitive pricing analysis, and on-site sales execution. With decades of experience, we ensure optimal ROI through strategic marketing campaigns and transparent reporting.
Multifamily Leasing
Our end-to-end leasing solutions cover pre-leasing to stabilization for residential rental properties. We offer pricing strategy optimization, amenity programming, digital lead management, and customized marketing campaigns. Our team ensures efficient lease-ups with in-house creative support and data-driven reporting for maximum occupancy rates.
Commercial-to-Residential Conversions
We specialize in converting commercial properties to residential spaces, offering zoning analysis, financing partnerships, and renovation planning. Our services include public relations management, permit process support, and design recommendations to maximize property value while complying with local housing regulations.
Residential Resales
Our full-service representation for buyers and sellers includes competitive market analysis, property staging, professional photography, and streamlined settlement processes. Agents provide personalized strategies from listing to contract negotiation, ensuring smooth transactions with access to a broad network of potential buyers.
Market Research
We deliver detailed market research including pricing trends, ROI evaluations, and risk analysis to guide real estate decisions. Our reports inform unit mix optimization, financing strategies, and development planning, supporting clients with data-backed insights for both urban and suburban markets.
People
Ross McWilliams
Co-Founder and Principal
Co-founded McWilliams Ballard in the 1990s, pioneering innovative marketing strategies for new-home developments. With over three decades of real estate experience, he leads strategic partnerships and long-term growth initiatives.
Chris Ballard
Co-Founder and Principal
Co-founded the firm with Ross McWilliams, contributing expertise in real estate development and market analysis. He oversees financial strategies and maintains relationships with national developers and institutional investors.
Questions
What services does McWilliams Ballard offer?
We provide new development sales, multifamily leasing, residential resales, commercial-to-residential conversions, market research, and creative branding solutions.
In which areas do you operate?
We work across Washington, D.C., Northern Virginia, Delaware, Florida, Maryland, and 14 U.S. states nationwide.
How long has the company been in business?
McWilliams Ballard was founded in 1996 and has over 28 years of real estate expertise.
What sets your firm apart from competitors?
Our in-house creative agency, $16 billion+ in sales, and 40,000+ homes sold/leased demonstrate our market leadership and tailored client solutions.
Do you handle commercial-to-residential conversions?
Yes, we offer full-service support for commercial property conversions, including zoning analysis, financing, and renovation planning.
Reviews (3)
Lisa T.
May 01, 2017
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Chris did a great job helping me sell my first home when I relocated for work. He knew the ins and outs of my unique housing community in Southwest and helped me get a great sales price quickly. As a first time seller no longer living in DC, I was especially appreciative of how responsive he was to my questions and helping me navigate the process. Moving is never easy, but he made it as painless as possible.
Elli D.
Oct 20, 2016
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Chris has his finger on the pulse of the real estate market in DC! Not only is he knowledgable about the neighborhoods in the city, but he's aware of emerging trends and best places to buy. Chris helped me buy my first condo in DC this week and was extremely helpful with finding the condo, finding a mortgage broker that could assist in my unique circumstance, and assisting me through the buying process. Even better, he's helped me find contractor's to assist with some renovations subsequent to the sale. I'd highly recommend Chris' services!
Elena I.
Dec 19, 2013
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My dream came true because Chris helped make it happen. I own my very own place because of Chris. I feel in love with the unit when I saw it and I told Chris- this is going to be mine. He walked me through each step of the purchasing process. And now I love where I live. He's really approachable, knowledgeable about DC, and professional!
