Today we’d like to introduce you to Daniel Savage.
Hi Daniel, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I grew up in Michigan, one of four siblings, and earned both my bachelor’s and master’s degrees in accounting from Michigan State University. I became a CPA and launched my career in San Francisco, where I worked at PricewaterhouseCoopers auditing Silicon Valley technology companies.
From there, I transitioned into financial due diligence for mergers and acquisitions, advising private equity firms, corporate buyers, and venture-backed companies across a wide range of industries, with a particular focus on industrial and manufacturing businesses. Over nearly a decade, I led diligence on more than 160 transactions totaling more than $10 billion in deal value, evaluating everything from founder-owned companies to complex carve-outs from multi-billion-dollar publicly traded corporations. That work sharpened how I think about risk, execution, and what it takes to scale an operation. Even while living in San Francisco, my career remained closely tied to the Midwest, as many of the acquisitions on which I advised New York–based private equity firms involved Midwest manufacturing companies.
Alongside that career, I’ve always had a deep interest in real estate and design. As a kid, I watched my parents build a custom home in Brighton with the same construction manager we still work with today, John Ditri. Later, I invested in a multifamily property in Oakland, California, where I redesigned my unit. I’ve long been drawn to designing spaces that flow comfortably, reflect individual character, and encourage connection for the people who live there and the guests they host.
Savage Development began as a pivot from a family construction project: a rental development in Howell, Michigan. My father and that same construction manager, a longtime collaborator, had built strong subcontractor relationships and adopted manufacturing-style processes to efficiently deliver the same unit repeatedly. I became involved in evaluating the economics, financing, and structure of the project, and it became clear there was an opportunity to take the concept further.
What began as a single project evolved into something more deliberate. I brought a level of financial rigor, transactional sophistication, legal fluency, and project management discipline more typical of institutional deals than local development, and formalized the effort into a development business. In March 2025, I founded Savage Development to focus specifically on building attached condominiums in Michigan.
Our current project spans 115 units in Howell, where we prioritize execution efficiency by delivering buildings faster than regional peers, reducing carrying costs, and reinvesting those savings into construction quality and finishes that are often treated as upgrades. My background may be unconventional for residential development, but it shapes how we operate, from navigating warrantability requirements to designing repeatable systems that scale.
I returned to Michigan intentionally. The housing challenges here are practical problems, and they can be addressed with capital discipline, operational rigor, and thoughtful design. Savage Development grew out of that premise, and it continues to guide how we build and where we focus.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I’m fortunate to have had a strong launching pad. My dad had long-standing relationships with high-integrity subcontractors and with another local builder, Jack Lansing, who has offered partnership and guidance along the way. That support helped pave a path that would have been far more difficult to navigate alone, and I’m grateful for it.
That doesn’t mean the road has been smooth. Like most early-stage builders, I’ve had to learn quickly how to manage cash flow, schedules, and people — making real decisions with real consequences. After years in consulting, where I advised on important decisions, stepping into a role where every choice affects workers, buyers, and investors has been challenging and humbling. Earning credibility in the field takes consistency, follow-through, and time.
On a more personal level, returning to Livingston County as an openly gay man leading a construction company has been an adjustment. It’s a sharp contrast from the last decade I spent in San Francisco. Growing up here, I did not feel safe being open about my sexuality because of bullying, strong religious and political views, and common misunderstandings. San Francisco gave me the space to accept who I am. While there has been significant progress in LGBTQ acceptance in Michigan since I was a teenager, some of those old fears resurfaced when I returned.
What’s changed is how I respond to those fears. Instead of shrinking myself, I’ve focused on building community and leading with competence. I started a book club with a few other Metro Detroit gay entrepreneurs, where we read business books and LGBTQ novels, share ideas, and support one another. Building a company here has pushed me to grow not just as a builder, but as a leader — one who values integrity, visibility, and creating space for others to feel they belong.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Savage Development is a residential real estate development company focused on thoughtfully designed, low-maintenance ranch-style condos and small-scale multifamily communities in Southeast Michigan. We specialize in single-level living that prioritizes comfort, durability, and efficient design, serving buyers who want high quality without unnecessary complexity.
What I’m most proud of, brand-wise, is our integrity. At Savage Development, we believe strong businesses create value for everyone involved — our customers, our employees, and our subcontractors. We make it a priority to treat people fairly, pay on time, and stand behind our work. We have no interest in generating wealth by taking from others.
We understand that purchasing a home is one of the most significant decisions a customer will make. That responsibility is felt across our entire team, from the sales process to the field crews installing finishes and hardware. Everyone takes pride in their role, knowing that the final product reflects all of us.
What often sets our homes apart are the details buyers may not immediately see, for example, the quality of the subflooring, insulation systems, basement foundations, and mechanical choices like the tankless water heaters we use. We build homes we would be proud to live in ourselves, managing costs as if it were our own home. By building efficiently and making disciplined decisions, we are able to control costs and share those savings with our customers.
Ultimately, our goal is simple: deliver honest value. We believe that by doing so consistently, we earn trust, outperform the competition, and build homes — and a reputation — that last.
So, before we go, how can our readers or others connect or collaborate with you? How can they support you?
There are a few meaningful ways people can work with or support us. For homebuyers, the best way to work with us is to start the conversation early. The sooner we are involved in the home-building process, the more we can tailor the home to fit your needs, from layout decisions to material selections, and help you understand the tradeoffs along the way. For subcontractors and trade partners, we are always interested in working with skilled, reliable professionals who take pride in their work and value long-term relationships. We believe in fair pricing, clear expectations, and paying on time.
We also welcome collaboration with landowners, brokers, and local partners who share our values and are interested in thoughtful, well-executed development. And on a personal level, support can be as simple as referrals, honest conversations, and being engaged in the communities where we build.
At the core, we work best with people who value integrity, follow-through, and doing things the right way.
Pricing:
- Our current homes start at $359k, and range to ~$500k
Contact Info:
- Website: https://SavageDevLLC.com
