Welcome to Mackximus Industrial Real Estate

Mackximus is a local, privately held real estate investment firm focusing on the Southeastern Wisconsin and Chicagoland markets. Mackximus specializes in value-add flex industrial opportunities. With a proven track record, Mackximus continues to grow a “best-in-class” real estate firm rooted in an entrepreneurial and creative spirit.

Our business plan is simple: buy right, lease efficiently, refinance appropriately, repeat.

“The overall objective is to project a lifelong realization that real estate is not a number crunching exercise but is a series of problem solving opportunities which interface practical tools of applied social science with every major issue of our time in terms of the conservation of both our people and our natural resources.“

James A. Graaskamp on Real Estate strategy

The Case for Industrial Real Estate - Why?

We focus on acquiring and managing a portfolio of industrial properties, specifically targeting small bay industrial and flex buildings, which range from 5,000 to 50,000 square feet. These properties primarily serve necessity-driven businesses, providing a stable asset class.

This sector offers an attractive mix of benefits including:

• Shorter lease terms that allow for competitive rent adjustments,

• Higher yields,

• Lower leasing costs,

• Diverse tenant base,

• And resilience to location-specific economic fluctuations.

These properties are not subject to the typical volatility of market cycles and are immune to disruptions from AI or other technological advancements.

Why Chicago?

Simply put, Chicago is a world-class city and has been an economic powerhouse since the dawn of the industrial revolution. A key aspect to Chicago's strength is its infrastructure, transportation, and connectivity. Chicago boasts one of the busiest airports in the world and is at the crossroads of several major interstates including I-90, I-94, I-290, and I-55. Further, Chicago's rail infrastructure is vast and multifaceted, as the hub for six Class I railroads.

The number of corporate headquarters in Chicago is second only to New York City and is home to 33 Fortune 500 companies. The local economy and workforce are highly diverse, supported largely by distribution, finance, manufacturing, and high-tech industries. Regarded as the largest centralized industrial market in the USA, there are approximately 16,000 industrial buildings in Chicago that encompass 1.3 billion square feet.

Why Milwaukee?

Once heralded as "The Beer Capital of the World," Milwaukee was home to iconic breweries like Miller, Schlitz, Pabst, and Blatz. Beyond its brewing fame, the city's industrial roots run deep. Today, Milwaukee has diversified from its traditional manufacturing base into sectors like healthcare, business services, technology, and burgeoning startups. This economic shift has attracted a variety of new employers, including six Fortune 500 companies.

When juxtaposed with its larger neighbor, Chicago, Milwaukee benefits from a significantly lower cost of doing business, prompting some businesses to relocate to what's affectionately known as "Brew City". Additionally, Milwaukee's industrial real estate market stands out for its strong real estate fundamentals and attractive investment returns. Nicknamed the Midwest’s "coolest (and most underrated) city," Milwaukee is emerging as a significant industrial market. With an inventory in excess of 385 million square feet, it ranks as the 15th largest industrial real estate market in the USA.