Company History

Waters Incorporated was founded in May 1930, by Karl Martin Waters, Sr. as the Keesler-Waters Company.  The original scope of business involved property and casualty insurance and residential property management.  In 1939 the company’s name changed to Waters Insurance and Realty.  K. Martin Waters, Jr. assumed the title of President in 1953 and over the next two decades diversified the company into multi-family development, commercial development, and commercial property management.  Additionally, the company became involved in the brokerage of investment and user properties.  In the 1970’s the company diversified into the development and management of self-storage complexes further broadening the company’s expertise.

The company progressed through the 1980’s with a new name, Waters Incorporated of Charlotte, and embarked on a decade of diversified commercial development. Development projects included office, retail, and light industrial projects throughout the two Carolinas.  Coupled with these larger scale projects, Waters Incorporated also continued building upon its 1970’s progress of smaller build-to-suit projects for convenience stores and fast food restaurants.

In 1990, the company sold its insurance agency and in 1993 K. Martin Waters, III became President, assuming the responsibility of continuously building on the Waters reputation of providing quality real estate services and investments.

In 1994, Waters split the company and created a parent company called Waters Investments, Inc.

This company is a passive investment company owning real estate and securities and is owned by Waters family members.  Furthermore, Waters Incorporated of Charlotte is a wholly owned subsidiary of Waters Investments, Inc. and is the main vehicle for all real estate activities including property management, brokerage, and acquisitions and dispositions of its portfolio of properties.

Today, Waters Incorporated manages a diversified portfolio of commercial and self-storage properties in North and South Carolina.  It is also active in the brokerage of multi-tenant and single tenant properties on behalf of its clients as well as finding and acquiring properties for its parent company and other investors.  The client list consists of a broad mix of institutional and individual investors for which Waters Incorporated provides a wide range of professional services. These services include property and asset management, leasing, brokerage, development, construction management, and consulting.

Waters Incorporated was awarded the AMO (Accredited Management Organization) designation by the Institute of Real Estate Management.  This designation is awarded to only those companies who meet the highest of qualifications set forth by IREM.  Our staff includes a CPM and individual CCIM and CRCBR members.

Personal service, attention to details, and an aggressive yet conservative approach to real estate investments are the standards by which we are known.