ABOUT
We are an employee owned, full-service commercial real estate brokerage, property management, and development company that has been creating value in the St. Louis region for its clients and investors for over 44 years.
Since 1979 we have dedicated ourselves to creating value through commercial real estate brokerage, investment, property management and development services for our clients, investor partners and local communities.
Gary Balke founded the company with a commitment to quality building design and meeting the needs of tenants. This commitment continues to drive our company as we have expanded from our roots as an office building developer/manager into a leading real estate services provider with expertise in office, retail, industrial, medical, and multi-family properties.
Today company executives Steve Brown and Mike Donovan lead a team of 250 people focused on building our reputation as an entrepreneurial value creator with the highest integrity where the needs of our customers always come first. Those customers include institutional owners, pension funds, REITS, fortune 500 companies, local partnerships and successful local entrepreneurs.
Proud to be an employee-owned company
Balke Brown Transwestern is one of the largest commercial real estate firms in St. Louis and the Metro East. BBTW’s Management/Leasing/Development portfolio includes over 63 projects containing over 8.0 million square feet.
Balke Brown Transwestern’s partnership with Transwestern in December 2011 has strengthened our outreach nationally/internationally within our brokerage and investment services teams.
Balke Brown Transwestern formed our multi-family residential services division in 2012 and has formally operated under the 2B Residential name since 2017. At 2B Residential we’re experts in turning apartments into more than places people live – these are places people are proud to call home! 2B Residential is one of the most respected and fastest-growing multi-family property management companies in the Midwest, with market-leading properties in St. Louis, Kansas City, Southern Illinois, Arkansas and Indiana.
Named Property Management Company of the Year in 2025, 2023, 2020, 2018 and 2016 by the St. Louis Apartment Association and 2020 Best Places to Work by the National Apartment Association, we pride ourselves on creating and managing market-leading communities that our residents are proud to call home.
Our portfolio of over 10,000 units includes the region’s most sought-after Class A residential communities with more added every month.
balke brown transwestern
advantage
ownership mentality
strong company culture
We understand our owners because we are owners. As an employee owned company, we operate with an ownership mindset and treat our clients and investor investments as if they were our own.
long term
success & history
Our 40+ year history is a story we are truly proud of. We pride ourselves on our lasting positive impressions made with both our top-tier developments to our valued clients/residents and the solid relationships that we have made over the years.
we are
value creators
Whether it be through our developments, communities or management services, the flexibility in our approach and proactive service-oriented mentality creates a stable formula for success. Our strong financial reputation alows us to customize the capital structure for each of our projects.
strong local expertise
coast-to-coast strength & resources
Our partnership with Transwestern and their international outreach brings combined strength both locally and nationally. 200+ offices in 37 countries.