OUR HISTORY

our story

It Started With A Single Property…

Berger Communities traces its roots to 1972, when two brothers set out to build something different in the Philadelphia real estate market - and never stopped.

Origin Story

In 1972, Jim Berger was 25 years old with a few years of real estate experience and a growing instinct for how apartment communities should be run. His brother Steve, 22, brought financial discipline from his background in accounting. Together, they saw a gap and decided to fill it. What started as a shared idea became a company built on doing things the right way, from day one.

A sign for Goshen Manor apartments stands in front of a multi-story brick apartment building surrounded by trees.
A brick apartment building with a parking lot containing several classic cars in front.

The First Apartment Community

Their first acquisition was Robert Court Apartments in Havertown, PA, a 42-unit community that set the tone for everything that followed. Over the next four years, Jim and Steve steadily expanded their portfolio throughout Philadelphia, acquiring properties ranging from 24 to 295 apartments. Each one was a bet on the belief that well-managed housing changes lives.

The Early Years

The early years weren't without challenge. Operating in underserved neighborhoods required creativity, persistence, and a willingness to take the long view. But those experiences sharpened the company's values and laid the groundwork for the principles that still guide Berger Communities today.

Three-story brick apartment buildings with gabled roofs, featuring several parked cars in the asphalt lot out front.
A group of people standing outside a brick building for a ground-breaking ceremony, with one person holding a shovel.

The Success of the 1980s

By the 1980s, the hard work was paying off. Growth opened the door to suburban markets and new acquisition opportunities. As the company expanded, Jim and Steve made a deliberate choice: build a strong team, give people real ownership over their work, and never lose sight of what makes a community worth living in. It was a formula that worked, and they stuck with it.

The Passing of Jim Berger and the Future of the Company

When Jim passed in 2001, the company didn't skip a beat -  because the culture he helped build was bigger than any one person. Steve carried the torch forward the same way they'd always operated: staying close to the work, empowering the team, and making sure every community lived up to the standard they'd set from the start.

A smiling person wearing a teal shirt outdoors with green foliage in the background.
A large, diverse group of people pose for a photo in a rustic room with a stone fireplace and a holiday wreath.

2008–2013 Company Expansion

In 2008, Berger Communities moved its corporate offices to Wayne, PA, planting a deeper flag in the region as the portfolio continued to grow across Pennsylvania. Growth was never just about scale, it was about doing more of what worked: steady expansion, strong operations, and communities that people were proud to call home.

These 5 Years Were Marked By 5 Milestones

  • Secondary and Tertiary PA Markets

    During this period, Berger Communities focused on secondary and tertiary Pennsylvania markets, where lower competition enabled strategic growth. By bringing professional management to underserved areas and expanding into student housing, the company created new opportunities while building a future pipeline of long-term residents. 

  • Real Estate Broker and Third-Party Property Management

    Berger Communities became a licensed Pennsylvania Real Estate Broker and began third-party property management, initially focusing on smaller communities. This expansion introduced a new dynamic - serving property owners as clients - while refining their approach and laying the foundation for scalable, service-driven growth.

  • Unified, Intentional Culture

    As the portfolio grew, Berger Communities focused on building a unified, intentional culture across its communities and corporate team. Recognizing that success starts with its people, the company aligned around core values - creating a consistent, culture-driven organization designed to support growth.

  • The Berger Way

    In 2012, Berger Communities rolled out “The Berger Way,” a set of 21 Fundamentals to live by. They believe that by focusing on the culture and team, they’ll continue to provide that “Ahhh, home” feeling to all residents. Furthermore, the company determined that it was committed to lasting growth, which would expand its team's opportunities.

  • Berger Real Estate Services

    In 2013, after restructuring their organization for growth and fine-tuning their third-party management services, Dan and Steve decided it was time to launch a new division of Berger Communities that would cater specifically to their third-party clients. In July, Berger Real Estate Services was launched.

Two men stand before a brick building entrance for a ribbon-cutting ceremony, framed by blue and silver balloon clusters.

Looking Ahead

Decades later, that same standard still guides us. We've been in this business for over 50 years, and what keeps us going isn't growth for its own sake - it's purpose.


The belief that where you live matters, that how you're treated matters, and that a well-run community can genuinely improve someone's life. That belief is what drives our continued expansion into new states, new markets, and new opportunities to do what we do best.


As Berger Communities grows, so does our commitment: to bring more homes under our care, to spread a management philosophy rooted in people, and to keep raising the bar for what great apartment living looks like.


 “We are energized by the past; but even more excited about our future!”

—Steve Berger, Founder

Get In Touch

Looking to learn more about Berger Communities?


Whether it's our properties, career opportunities, or just a general question about our business - contact us today.