Homes By Towne Zilber Ltd
Company History
1949
Milwaukeean Joseph J. Zilber having served in World War II and working for a small real estate firm, wanting to marry his college sweetheart and being denied a raise by his employer, decides to establish his own real estate brokerage office - Towne Realty.
1950s
To fill the need of returning GIs for housing throughout Wisconsin, Towne Realty expanded from a residential brokerage firm into a full-fledged real estate company that develops, designs, builds and sells a wide range of homes starting at $9,995.
1960s
Towne Realty continues to grow and expand into ownership of commercial real estate by purchasing major office buildings in downtown Milwaukee. Mortgage servicing and financial services were added as well. To meet private and public housing needs, Towne Realty expands outside of Wisconsin into apartment buildings and student dormitories and successfully bids on major government construction projects. A public company was formed which would become one of the largest health care companies in America.
1970s
Towne Realty undertakes a major geographic expansion of its activities including the design and construction of a number of a large condominium projects on the Florida Space Coast and in the Phoenix Metroplex. To help meet the high demand for quality health care, Towne constructs nursing, subacute, assisted and senior living centers for itself and non-related clients.
1980s
Zilber Ltd. is formed as a holding company for Towne Realty and other Zilber family interests. The 1980’s marked the expansion of Towne Realty’s development activities into California and Hawaii. Projects included single-family residential, condominium communities, office buildings and medical clinics. In response to the high demand for interval vacation ownership, Towne Realty created its first interval ownership resort in Cocoa Beach, Florida. These properties would later be marketed under the Resorts by Towne®* brand name.
1990s
Taking advantage of decades of experience, a strong financial base and a deep management team, Towne Realty directed its focus on the planning, design, development, construction and marketing of a full range of residential, commercial and light industrial real estate products, as well as managing its own extensive real estate portfolio. By the end of the decade, Towne Realty, with its Homes by Towne®* brand name, conducts operations in Arizona, California, Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Nevada, Texas and Wisconsin.
2000s
Zilber Ltd., through its Zilber Property GroupSM (formerly Towne Investments) division, has continued to expand and enhance its portfolio of office buildings, warehouses and light industrial space. These properties have been acquired through the sale or trade of older buildings or the construction or purchase of newer properties in Southeastern Wisconsin, Illinois and Western Florida. Homes by Towne® and Towne Island Homes® have expanded their design, construction and sales activities nationwide with land acquisitions in California, Arizona, Florida, Texas and Hawaii.
*Registered trademark of Homes by Towne, a Zilber Company LLC
