Ben Hines, President and Principal of Spencer/Hines Properties, is marking 40 years in commercial real estate. Since founding Spencer/Hines Properties in 1993, Ben has built the Greenville and Spartanburg-based firm into a trusted name for buyers, sellers, and landlords across South Carolina’s Upstate. Guided by core values of compassion, teamwork, excellence, and integrity.

Forty years in any industry is an achievement worth celebrating. Forty years in commercial real estate, an industry defined by shifting markets, evolving client needs, and no shortage of competition, is something else entirely. That’s the milestone Ben Hines, President and Principal of Spencer/Hines Properties, is celebrating this year.

Ben’s journey in commercial real estate has spanned decades of change in the Upstate of South Carolina. Through it all, he’s stayed rooted in the same principles: serve people well, know the market inside and out, and never stop giving back to the community that built the business. Today, Spencer/Hines Properties stands as one of the region’s most established commercial real estate firms, and Ben’s leadership is a big reason why.

This milestone offers a good moment to look at how Spencer/Hines Properties got here. What the firm actually does for its clients, and why its values-driven approach continues to set it apart in a crowded market.

How did Spencer/Hines Properties get started?

Spencer/Hines Properties was founded in 1993 with a clear mission: help buyers, sellers, and landlords navigate the commercial real estate market in Greenville and Spartanburg with expertise and integrity. Over the past three decades, that mission hasn’t changed, even as the Upstate has transformed into one of the Southeast’s fastest-growing commercial hubs.

Ben Hines has been at the center of that growth. His leadership has helped the firm build a reputation as the go-to resource for commercial real estate transactions throughout the region. Whether a client is leasing office space in downtown Greenville or negotiating a complex land deal in Spartanburg County, Spencer/Hines Properties has the local knowledge to guide the process from start to finish.

What services does Spencer/Hines Properties offer?

Spencer/Hines Properties provides a full range of commercial real estate services designed to meet the needs of buyers, sellers, landlords, and tenants alike. These include:

• Sales and leasing: Helping clients buy, sell, or lease commercial properties across the Upstate.
• Buyer and tenant representation: Advocating for buyers and tenants throughout negotiations to secure favorable terms.
• Property management: Overseeing day-to-day operations so property owners can focus on growing their portfolios.
• Site selection and development: Guiding businesses through the process of finding and developing the right location.
• 1031 IRS Tax Deferred Exchanges: Assisting investors in deferring capital gains taxes through qualified property exchanges.
• Negotiation services: Bringing decades of market expertise to every deal to protect client interests.

Choose Spencer/Hines Properties if you need a firm that can handle a transaction from the first conversation to the closing table.

What core values guide Spencer/Hines Properties?

Ben Hines and the team at Spencer/Hines Properties operate according to four core values: compassion, teamwork, excellence, and integrity. These aren’t just words on a wall. They shape how the firm treats clients, partners, and the broader community.

Compassion, in particular, has defined much of Ben’s approach to business and life. He serves on numerous community boards and organizations throughout the Upstate, reflecting a belief that success in business should translate into service to others. That belief is rooted in Ben’s Christian faith. His favorite verse, Romans 15:13, reads: “May the God of all hope fill you with joy and peace as you trust in Him.” It’s a verse that speaks to hope and trust, two qualities that have carried Ben through four decades of an industry known for its ups and downs.

Teamwork and excellence round out the firm’s foundation. Commercial real estate deals rarely succeed because of one person’s effort. They require collaboration between agents, clients, attorneys, and property owners, all working toward the same outcome. Spencer/Hines Properties has built its team around that understanding, prioritizing collaborative problem-solving over individual credit.

Why does Spencer/Hines Properties give back to the Greenville and Spartanburg community?

Giving back has been part of Spencer/Hines Properties’ vision since day one. Ben Hines’ involvement in local boards and organizations isn’t a side project; it’s an extension of the firm’s mission. In an industry that’s fundamentally about place, about the buildings, land, and spaces where people work and do business, investing in the health of that place makes sense.

This community focus also shapes how Spencer/Hines Properties approaches its client relationships. Clients aren’t just transactions. They’re neighbors, business owners, and fellow stakeholders in the future of Greenville and Spartanburg. That perspective has helped the firm build long-term relationships that go well beyond a single sale or lease.

What’s next for Spencer/Hines Properties?

Forty years in, Ben Hines and Spencer/Hines Properties show no signs of slowing down. The Upstate’s commercial real estate market continues to grow, and the firm’s full range of services, paired with its community-first values, positions it well to keep serving buyers, sellers, and landlords for decades to come.

If your business needs a partner for its next commercial real estate move, whether that’s a lease negotiation, a 1031 exchange, or finding the right site to build on, Spencer/Hines Properties brings 40 years of experience to the table.

Reach out to the team today and see what makes Spencer/Hines Properties the trusted choice across Greenville and Spartanburg.