2023 Trusted Advisers: Stephen N. Critchfield

Stephen N. Critchfield knows commercial real estate. And he’s fine-tuned his knowledge to the Branson market and throughout Taney County over a 45-year career.

Critchfield has dedicated his career to serving commercial property owners, developers and tenants.

His draw to the Branson market was similar to many in the 1990s, when the area boomed with entertainment and attraction venues.

Critchfield made the move from Wichita, Kansas, in 1994, when his first real estate company, Critchfield Inc., merged with a partner to form Milton Critchfield Inc.

After later buying out his partner’s interest, Critchfield was recruited to CJR Commercial Group’s new Branson office and annually closed $10 million-$19 million in sales contracts. That activity led to the 2005 formation of Commercial One Brokers LLC with partner Bob Huels Jr.

Today, Critchfield says their company interacts with over 200 tenants annually and leases several dozen office, retail and industrial properties throughout Taney County.

Last year, he says he closed on 19 individual contracts – right at his average the past three years – and managed nine clients.

“My partner and I now work with 28 property owners with the management and leasing of their Branson and Hollister properties,” he says.

Critchfield cites examples from recommending a dessert franchise for the Branson market that has grown into deals in Springfield and Bentonville, Arkansas, to helping a client buy their first investment property that’s blossomed into a $2.5 million real estate portfolio and assisting a strip center investor/owner recover from suddenly losing his managing partner.

On the future of the commercial real estate industry, Critchfield sees technology at the forefront.

“The addition of geofencing and phone tracking can now tell me where our tenants’ customers are coming from, how many there are, and if there is a need for another type of product in the center or market and/or expansion opportunity for our tenants,” he says, noting there’s a growing hunger for easily accessible market data. “Not only are there far more specific data services providers but many of these companies now have incorporated marketing and graphic services, contract management, data and accounting services, and other services typically only available to larger highly staffed companies.

“Many of these services have been available to residential agents but have just become more available to commercial specialists.”

Jonas Arjes, who leads the Taney County Partnership and Branson/Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce & Convention and Visitors Bureau, says he’s worked with Critchfield on multiple projects.

“Not only is Steve a broker, but he is also a developer and can lean on that experience when walking a client through the process of purchasing and developing property in the region. His vast knowledge of the industry and the market is a significant benefit to our efforts.”