A different kind of real estate firm.
Founded in 2016 on a simple idea — quality over volume, with our own capital in every deal.
We pursue single-tenant net lease deals that larger firms pass on — complex leases, motivated sellers, and situations where creative problem-solving creates real value.
Since 2016, Knox Capital has closed 144 transactions across the country, often in spaces where bigger firms overlook opportunity. We invest personal capital in every deal — alignment that isn't a talking point, but the foundation of how we operate.
We don't just close deals. We solve problems, earn trust, and put our own money to work alongside our partners.
Brad Cottam
Brad founded Knox Capital in 2016, though the path there was an unusual one. He started his career on the field — playing in the NFL for the Kansas City Chiefs — before moving into commercial real estate as a single-tenant net lease broker at CBRE. Watching how the principals on the other side of his deals created value, he began buying properties on the side. One deal became a few, a few became a company, and by 2016 Knox was a real business.
Today Brad sets the firm's strategy and is the ultimate decision-maker on every deal, running a deliberately lean, hands-on shop where the principals do the work themselves. He's straightforward and genuinely easy to deal with — more interested in getting a deal closed cleanly than in being the smartest person in the room.
Outside of Knox, Brad is happiest at home. He and his wife have been married 15 years and have three daughters — Lily, Ava, and Nora — and most of his free time goes to them, often double-bouncing them on the trampoline, which he'll tell you is what he really lives for. He's a proud Tennessee Vols fan and, above all, a Christian whose faith shapes how he does business and treats the people across the table from him.
Cole Howard
Cole got his start in commercial real estate as an agent, cold-calling property owners in search of listings. It was in that role that he first met Brad, and after doing a few deals together, he joined Knox Capital in 2020. Today he serves as President and runs the day-to-day on every deal the firm touches — from sourcing and underwriting through LOIs, contracts, due diligence, financing, and closing. If you're a broker, title officer, lender, or tenant working with Knox, Cole is usually the one on the other end of the phone.
Cole focuses on finding value-add opportunities in single-tenant net lease properties across the country. He's a self-starter, and what he enjoys most about the job is the people — building new relationships with brokers, vendors, and investors.
Outside of Knox, Cole lives in the Lake Highlands neighborhood of Dallas with his wife, Sarah, their son, Liam, and their daughter, Nora. When he's not chasing a toddler, you'll find him on the golf course or at the smoker. He's also a Philadelphia Eagles fan, which takes some courage in Cowboys country.
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