Jan. 13, 2022

Pick a major intersection in a growing part of Sioux Falls, and chances are Brady Hyde either has looked at it or has a project underway there.

On the east side, Hyde and his family-owned Empire Homes are under construction or planning to be at multiple locations, including a large-scale development at 57th Street and Veterans Parkway.

On the west side, he’s tackling a development at 41st Street and Ellis Road.

And to the south, he’s wrapping up work at 69th Street and Southeastern Avenue.

“It’s been a very busy real estate market,” he said.

Hyde and his younger brother, Blake, own Empire Homes. They grew up in the Onida area on a family farm.

“He was driving a combine by 6 or 7 and me a little after that – 8 or 9,” Hyde said. “Out in those areas, you start when you’re old enough to see over the wheel with a pillow.”

They both played college basketball: Blake at DSU and Brady at Hawaii-Hilo.

After college, they gravitated to real estate and investing, starting with a couple of investment properties and fixing up small multifamily buildings.

They started Empire Homes in 2008 and built 10 homes their first year.

“And really just kept grinding and doing a little more and a little more, and I think about year four we started bringing on a team member and then a couple more,” Hyde said. “I had a passion to do something for ourselves, watching everyone on my dad’s side be self-employed.”

Their first commercial development was an old house that’s now Kum & Go at Fifth Street and Minnesota Avenue, followed by a fourplex at 26th Street and Southeastern Avenue.

“It really was when the recession hit, we focused on just starting in Sioux Falls and building. And it was really bad timing, but neither Blake or I would change a thing because it allowed us to go through a steep learning curve at a time that was affordable,” Hyde said. “Sub(contractor)s had time because their calendars were freed up, and a lot of folks we still work with today helped us through that learning curve. So it was dumb luck and good timing.”

They began buying and slowly developing land into residential from 2008 until 2012 and then began partnering with other builders to buy larger parcels such as the Diamond Fields neighborhood near 41st Street and Veterans Parkway.

“Brady has proven to be a very decisive developer – he’s not afraid to make a decision and move forward,” said Ryan Tysdal of Van Buskirk Cos., who has worked with Hyde on multiple projects.

More recent developments for Empire Homes include the area at 69th and Southeastern, with Donahoe Farms, Whispering Woods and The Locale apartments.

“That’s our first sizable for-lease community, and we hope to replicate that on some different areas,” Hyde said.

Next up

This year will bring work on several new projects for Empire, including more than 150 acres on the southwest corner of 57th and Veterans called Harvest Creek.

The concept calls for a mix of commercial, office, an apartment community called The Slate at Harvest Creek and owner-occupied housing, including single family.

“It’s been great working with Brady on his Harvest Creek commercial development,” said Tysdal, the listing agent on the commercial land. “We have some fun retail announcements in the near future.”

The location near Harmodon Park and a future Sanford Health medical campus has been attractive for commercial development, Tysdal said, adding Harvest Creek just hit the market and already is drawing interest.

“Brady has an ability to listen to what the market is looking for and offering product to meet the demand,” he said. “Harvest Creek has small and large retail opportunities, as well as office options.”

Hyde said he hopes to start on office development along 57th near Dubuque Avenue this year too.

On the retail side, “it would be nice to try to land even community amenities, whether it be a coffee shop or fast-casual restaurant or bar, walking distance for that community,” he said.

Not too far away, he’s also starting a development on the southeast corner of 41st Street and Six Mile Road on 55 acres.

“We’re doing multifamily town homes, twin homes and single family,” he said, adding that mix has become a mainstay for the company.

“It really is for us. Our trade base is geared for it, and it seems to allow us to utilize some of our land purchases.”

The homes typically range from the high $200,000s to mid-$300,000s for twin homes, $250,000 to $280,000 for town homes and start in the low $300,000s for single-family homes.

The plan is to start delivering homes there in the spring, along with starting construction on the other side of town at 41st and Ellis.

There, Empire Homes has 45 acres south of 41st and west of Ellis and again plans a mix of multifamily and owner-occupied housing.

“Demand is still elevated,” Hyde said of the market. “It’s not as strong as it was last June. We’re not seeing bidding wars or anything along those lines … but it definitely doesn’t feel like we’re in a slow market.”