Burg Properties

Real Estate That Reflects the Heart of the Community

Growing Philadelphia Housing Through Experience and Partnerships

Founded in 2020, Burg Properties, a Philadelphia based real estate development company led by the Burgos brothers, has carved out a nice niche as a leading real estate developer that puts the community first. Burg Properties builds its own projectors, and also handles the pre-development portion: research, underwriting, development in addition to the rental end of the business.

Since its inception, the company has continued to evolve, building a diverse portfolio that includes ground up development, substantial renovation projects, and an expanding focus on affordable housing initiatives.

“We focus mainly on multi-family, adaptive reuse and new construction, diving deeper into new construction as the years are progressing,” shares co-owner, Danilo A. Burgos. “We love grabbing old buildings between 8 to 15 units and converting them into apartments.”

With a roadmap in hand to become the leading real estate development firm in the Philadelphia region, Burg Properties is already sitting in an enviable position as we look towards 2026 and beyond.

A Focused Development Model

Burg Properties has been built on both opportunity and experience. Rather than beginning with single family homes, Burg entered the market directly through multifamily properties. Burgos attributes this decision to his early exposure to commercial real estate and large scale construction, which he says shaped how he evaluates risk, effort, and return. “I didn’t see any point in us doing a single family home when we could easily do a four unit apartment building,” he relays. “I saw that the same amount of work that it would take us to renovate a single family home, we could easily do a four unit.”

This approach has allowed the company to grow while remaining deliberate in its project selection. Over time, Burg Properties has expanded its scope from smaller acquisitions to more complex developments, including ground up construction.

Early Influences and Career Foundations

Burgos has been continuously involved and has put his heart into Philadelphia Futures (now Heights Philadelphia). Once a student in the program, Burgos owes a lot of his skills to his work with Heights Philadelphia which played a key role in teaching Burgos the core skills to succeed in the world. He now serves as a broad member for the organization. “I enrolled in the Philadelphia Futures (now Heights Philadelphia), a scholarship program that seeks to connect Black, brown and first-generation youth with career and college opportunities,” Burgos highlights. Always civic-minded, Burgos also serves on the Tacony community development board.

Burgos, a Temple University graduate who grew up in Philadelphia and attended the city’s public schools, initially studied tourism, hospitality, and international business. While studying, his interest in real estate emerged during these pivotal college years.

Observing friends move off campus and navigate the rental process sparked his curiosity about property ownership and development. His interest in real estate blossomed further when his brother would visit him often on campus and the two would discuss rental processes. His brother strongly encouraged forming a partnership that would focus on real estate, which initially started with looking into ways to buy a property on campus.

That interest led to an internship with PRDC Properties, where he started in an administrative role, and gradually gained exposure to all aspects of a major mixed use development. One of his formative experiences was working on the Heid Building, a former hat factory converted into 97 apartments with a large commercial space.

“I was able to see that literally from framing all the way through finishes,” he recalls.

“I got to see what commercial real estate looks like on a high level. Most people start in residential, and then they move to commercial, but I started in commercial and then I learned residential.”

That experience gave Burgos a broad view of large scale development, including trade coordination, timelines, and project management. “During that process, the project managers, Charlie, who had over 25 years of experience under his belt, and Roney never held back in answering any questions that I had, or teaching me as much as he possibly could. So he was a huge part in mentoring me in the early stages,” he remarks. Tony and David were influential in sharing what underwriting a property was like and how the acquisition process was like.

Building While Learning

While Burgos was gaining professional experience, he and his brother began acquiring properties independently, starting with smaller two and three unit buildings, and expanding over time to six and eight unit properties. “As I’m working these long hours, we’re also buying buildings on the side,” he recounts.

“After our nine to five we would put sweat equity into these properties. It was a lot of 15, 19 hour days. It’s had its challenges, for sure. Everything you do, at the end of the day, is a lot of work. It just depends how willing you are to put in that time and effort.”

In 2020 Burgos separated from PRDC Properties due to COVID. He briefly transitioned into a role with a private company, overseeing operations for multiple furniture stores, commercial properties, and warehouses. In that position, he managed maintenance, supervised more than 40 employees, and helped deliver a 100,000 square foot warehouse project.

He also oversaw the renovation and leasing of a 60 store shopping center. “At a very young age, I was blessed to have people around me that believed in me and that trusted me,” he acknowledges. All of this laid the groundwork for the official launch of Burg Properties.

Current Projects and Focus

Today, the company is developing projects across Philadelphia. Among its current initiatives is a 15 unit ground up multifamily development in Germantown, which the firm expects to deliver within 10 to 12 months. The company has also recently completed a nine unit renovation in the Mantua area of West Philadelphia. With a mix of others also under construction.

“That was an old property. It used to be a boarding house, and we renovated it completely and turned it into one and two bedroom apartments for rent,” Burgos expands. “We are offering it for PHA vouchers and market rate tenants. So you can say it’s a mixed income rental.”

In addition, Burg Properties is pursuing affordable housing opportunities through the Philadelphia Land Bank and the Turn the Key program. “We’re hoping that by the end of 2026 we can be breaking ground on over 20 to 25 single family homes,” Burgos says. “We’ve been going through the motions of it, and it’s really just a waiting game right now.”

The combined experience of the Burgos brothers brings together hands-on construction knowledge and experience with both commercial and residential development. The company currently acts as a general contractor on its projects while subcontracting specialized trades.

“As you grow, either you grow your staff, or you outsource it,” Burgos maintains, noting that as project volume increases, additional contracting partnerships will be necessary.

“We actually have already started looking at other options, especially because, God willing, once we start breaking ground on affordable housing, we will need to hire more people,” he admits. “But the good thing is that as big as Philadelphia is, it’s also extremely small, and the word does get around  regarding somebody’s professionalism and track record. So we do have an extensive contact list and an extensive network of people that we can reach out to help us deliver all of these projects that we intend to bring in 2026.”

Strength Through Partnership

Long term relationships are a cornerstone of Burg Properties’ operations. Burgos highlights a partnership with Jesse Smith of JLS Architects, who they have worked with since the beginning. “Jesse has been extremely influential in the success of our company and helping us push it forward and grow it throughout the years,” he says.

“Every single project we’ve worked on Jesse has been our architect, and he’s been extremely valuable to us. We’re grateful that we were able to connect with him, and to have him a part of our team.”

Suppliers and vendors who are reliable and solution focused are also invaluable to the company. On its Germantown project, the firm has partnered with Jeff from Carter Lumber. “He’s been extremely helpful in terms of pushing our timeline forward, responding to us, delivering things on time,” Burgos details.

“It’s a new relationship that is in the early stages. But there are relationships that you can see early that are not only important, but that are good, that are mutual.” We also work with Mel from Tague lumber who has been our supplier since our very first project

He further emphasizes the benefits of long term partnerships, many of which have been established since his early days in the industry. “I’ve been able to build a big network of people that I know and people that I can work with,” he maintains.

“I’m huge on building relationships, on facing adversity on projects with individuals. You see who someone really is when you both encounter an issue that was unforeseen. How you and that other person resolve the issue says a lot,, and it builds on the relationship.

For Burgos, professionalism and respect are also crucial. “At the end of the day, relationships are everything,” he says. “The only thing I have in this world as a man and the only thing I’m leaving with will be my word.”

Looking Ahead

As Burg Properties plans for 2026 and beyond, responsible growth is top of mind. “All of the capital that we’ve been receiving since we started, we’ve been reinvesting it right back into the company,” Burgos explains. “We’re big on living  below our means and being responsible with the revenue that we’re making, and for all of the individuals that we’re blessed to be able to give work to.”

Over the next five years, the company aims to build or retain more than 500 rental units, including a mix of market rate, affordable housing, and for sale homes. “Every day, it feels like we’re starting new. We’re still carrying ourselves with that same drive that drove us to start the company,” he stresses. As first generation Dominican developers in their family, the Burgos brothers are committed to sharing knowledge and expanding access to opportunity within the industry. “We’re not just thinking for ourselves. We’re thinking generationally,” he affirms.

“We will become the leading Dominican developers in Philadelphia,” he confidently concludes.

AT A GLANCE

Who: Burg Properties

What: A Philadelphia based real estate development company

Where: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Website: www.burg-properties.com