Why Common Ground
We help neglected properties become useful again.
For people. For neighborhoods. For what comes next.
We work across Rochester and Upstate New York to bring stuck, distressed, and underused spaces back into motion — housing, mixed-use buildings, and places with potential.
We work with properties that are stuck.
Vacant. Inherited. Tired rentals. Multifamily. Mixed-use. Small commercial.
We simplify the situation and create a clear path forward.
No pressure. No drawn-out timelines. Just a straightforward way to move on.
What we do
No pressure. Just a conversation about what makes sense.
Done right, this work creates momentum — not just transactions.
Who we are
Clay Secrest
I’m Clay.
My background is in healthcare — I worked as an ICU nurse, where I learned how to stay steady in high-pressure situations and make clear decisions when things aren’t straightforward.
I got into real estate because I like solving problems and working with properties that need a second look — the ones where there’s real opportunity if you know how to approach them.
Outside of work, I’m into cooking and mountain biking, and I spend most of my time with my partner Olivia.
Erin and I go way back — our dads were both glassblowers, so we grew up around each other. This business is a natural extension of that — built on trust, shared history, and figuring things out together.
Erin Pownall Burns
I’m Erin — most people call me E.
My background is in sales, residential solar, and social work. I’m a licensed social worker, and I spent time in Rochester working directly with people who were unsheltered — helping them find housing and navigate systems that aren’t always easy to move through.
That experience shaped how I see real estate. I care about getting older housing back into circulation in a way that actually works — for the people living in it and for the communities around it.
Now, I bring that perspective into this work — helping people move on when a property becomes too much, and making sure it doesn’t stay stuck.
I live in Canandaigua in a mixed-use, multi-generational space with my kids. Outside of work, I’m usually reading, moving, or spending time with them.
Every property has a story.
Tell us what’s going on—we’ll help you think through your options.
Ready to move on from a property?
No pressure. Just a conversation.
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