Our History

The Hignell Companies is a family owned company that has offered property development services and property management for 75 years. Beginning in 1948, Fred Hignell, Jr., along with his partner at the time, Floyd Strange, was responsible for the construction of over 1,000 homes in 25 subdivisions, in addition to apartment and commercial projects. 

Doug Hignell joined his father in 1970, bringing with him new vitality and an expanded vision for the company. Emphasis changed to real estate syndication and property management services, teaming with a solid group of investors. Next was the formation of a professional management team and ongoing growth.

In the last five decades, The Hignell Companies has built numerous apartment complexes, a professional office complex of 37,026 square feet, a small specialty shopping center, developed and marketed a 64 duplex subdivision and a 59-lot planned unit development. In addition, we have built and are managing The Courtyard at Little Chico Creek, a 41-unit residential care facility for the elderly. Our property management division works with property owners of single-family homes as well as large apartment complexes in the North State.

As a key component of our property management services, we also offer a full rental site for marketing our homes and apartments. Using state of the art software that keeps everything current moment by moment, we have created a simple tool for potential residents to locate the home or apartment of their choice, while offering clear marketing for our property owners.

With extensive property management experience, The Hignell Companies began offering management for Homeowner and Property Owner Association boards in the 1980s. We help HOAs ranging in size from just a few homes, to those who have close to 2,000 as part of their HOA. We provide full board management services as well as shorter term consulting options. We are also consistently developing resources to help train and equip board members across the country.

In addition to our property management and development abilities, we are also equipped to provide any maintenance and construction work that is needed to keep our properties in top condition. We hold a general building contractor’s license (#143778) with nine supplemental classifications including warm-air heating, ventilating and air-conditioning, electrical, painting and decorating, plumbing, roofing, sanitation systems, sheet metal, lathing and plaster, and drywall. We offer these services to our property owners, allowing them to keep everything under one roof. We also offer these services to the greater North State community.

We presently employ more than 150 people who represent the firm in the fields of commercial and residential property management and Community Association Management. (Corp. BRE #317250), and general services.

Doug Hignell served as the Chairman of the Board of Directors up until his passing in September of 2019. The Hignell Companies is still a family company at its core, and the family’s interests will continue to be represented with Doug's daughter Keri stepping into his role as the Chairman of the Board.

Doug's presence and legacy are with us daily as we continue to be and become the company he and his father started so many years ago. 

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