Martin Ditto is a builder by instinct and by trade. As a residential developer in Nashville, he focuses on high-end homes shaped through close collaboration with architects and designers, projects where quality and intent lead every decision.
His path hasn’t been linear, but the throughline is consistent: a drive to create something real. Now in his third chapter in Nashville, Martin is building alongside trusted partners and operating with a clear point of view.
At Ampersand, what started with design and convenience turned into something more valuable, community. For someone who thrives on ideas, that proximity to others isn’t just nice to have; it’s a multiplier.
Tell us a little about what you do.
I’m a builder, I’ve been developing residential projects pretty much since the day I got out of college. Right now I’m focused on fine homes in Nashville, which to me means partnering with truly extraordinary architects and designers to create houses that are really special.
What inspires/motivates you to get out of bed?
At my core, I just love to build, and I always have. Whether it was designing cities in SimCity or finding any excuse to create something from nothing, building structures in the real world is something I’ve been working toward my whole life. Getting to do that now in Nashville, alongside architects, designers, and collaborators I’ve known and trusted for years, feels like a real blessing.
What is the one thing you can’t live without?
My dog.
Where do your brightest ideas come from?
I’m kind of an idea factory. I think my brightest ideas come from repeating the same idea over and over again until I realized it wasn’t just a fleeting idea, but something I meant to do.
Where is your favorite place to decompress & unwind?
Sewanee.
When do you feel your best, and what do you do to stay in the vibration?
After a great foot massage.
Tell us something we don’t know about you.
I’ve actually moved to Nashville three times, four years the first time, four months the second time, and now just over two years into my third chapter here. That second stint was supposed to be the beginning of a taco restaurant, but when that didn’t work out, I headed back to Washington D.C. and started my development company instead.
What made you decide to join Ampersand?
Honestly, the design of the space drew me in first, and the location didn’t hurt, since it’s walking distance from my office. But what’s kept me here is getting to know my officemates. I’d been out of the office world for five years, and I hadn’t realized how much I missed having colleagues until I found them here.
