According to Charles Blumenkehl, managing partner for Blue Asset Management LLC, purchasing real estate today as it relates to income is at its most affordable levels since before 1989.
Blumenkehl points to studies released by Moodys Analytics that show the ratio ofhome prices to household income falling to 1.6, less than the historical average between 1989 and 2005 which was 1.9. The ratio was at its highest level in 2005, according to the study, at a ratio of 2.3.
According to Blumenkehl, “Buying a home, based on average consumer incomes, is cheaper now than in the last 22 years. The affordability is fueled by the rate of foreclosures in many markets, and the markets which have the most foreclosures have the cheapest affordability ratios.” Blumenkehl continued, “right now, buying a home is cheaper than renting a home. The key, unfortunately for many people desirous of buying a home, is whether they can qualify for a mortgage based on the more stringent income, downpayment and credit underwriting requirements imposed by most lenders today”
Blumenkehl added, “The good news is that there are still low money down options available to buyers who are gainfully employed and have verifiable income. FHA mortgages are still available with downpayments of less than 5%, VA mortgages for qualified veterans are still available with no money down, and for the most creditworthy of potential home purchasers FNMA and Freddie Mac mortgages with 10% downpayments are available. With mortgage rates and housing prices at historic lows, anyone who can buy a house today should, and will be very pleased with their decision to buy in a few years when the glut of foreclosures subsides and the real estate market normalizes to it historic trends.”
Charles Blumenkehl, a 30+ year veteran of New Jersey Real Estate, founded Blue Asset Management LLC in 2008 to leverage what he saw as opportunities which became available in New Jersey Real Estate as a result of the mortgage meltdown leading to the foreclosure crisis. Blumenkehl’s fund buys performing and non performing residential and commercial mortgages, distressed and investment real estate. For more information about Charles Blumenkehl or Blue Asset Management LLC, log onto the company website at www.blueassetmanagementllc.com or call the company directly at 973 835-1400.
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Blue Asset Management Sees Buyers Favoring Smaller Houses over McMansions
Charles Blumenkehl, managing partner of Blue Asset Management LLC sees buyers favoring smaller and more energy efficient homes with lower costs over larger “McMansion’ type properties.
According to Blumenkehl, “the trend for buying smaller more practical housing has been increasing over the past few years for a number of reasons. Obviously, affordability is a factor, given the economic contraction of the past few years leaving less buyers positioned to buy the more expensive larger homes in their markets. In addition, the trend to go green, using less energy and wasting fewer resources, the trend to move closer to urban areas which provide more nightlife and shopping, and the trend for owner occupied multi family housing is impacting the big box home marketplace”. Blumenkehl added, “As a result of the lesser interest in these large homes today, our fund is more focused on acquisitions of smaller single family type homes between 1500 and 2200 square feet and multi-family homes that meet owner-occupant criteria.”
Blumenkehl also said he sees a slowdown in sales of these type properties amongst real estate funds who occupy the same business space as his fund, and sees an increased trend to lease/to purchase larger homes as a means of keeping them afloat and avoiding the expensive carrying and maintenance costs these properties can represent.
Blue Asset Management LLC was founded in 2008 by Charles Blumenkehl to leverage opportunities made available through the mortgage meltdown and foreclosure crisis impacting the economy. Blue Asset Management is a purchaser and seller of performing and non performing residential and small cap commercial mortgages, distressed and investment real estate in northern New Jersey. For more information about Blue Asset Management LLC, log onto the company website at www.blueassetmanagementllc.com or call the company directly at 973 835-1400.
According to Blumenkehl, “the trend for buying smaller more practical housing has been increasing over the past few years for a number of reasons. Obviously, affordability is a factor, given the economic contraction of the past few years leaving less buyers positioned to buy the more expensive larger homes in their markets. In addition, the trend to go green, using less energy and wasting fewer resources, the trend to move closer to urban areas which provide more nightlife and shopping, and the trend for owner occupied multi family housing is impacting the big box home marketplace”. Blumenkehl added, “As a result of the lesser interest in these large homes today, our fund is more focused on acquisitions of smaller single family type homes between 1500 and 2200 square feet and multi-family homes that meet owner-occupant criteria.”
Blumenkehl also said he sees a slowdown in sales of these type properties amongst real estate funds who occupy the same business space as his fund, and sees an increased trend to lease/to purchase larger homes as a means of keeping them afloat and avoiding the expensive carrying and maintenance costs these properties can represent.
Blue Asset Management LLC was founded in 2008 by Charles Blumenkehl to leverage opportunities made available through the mortgage meltdown and foreclosure crisis impacting the economy. Blue Asset Management is a purchaser and seller of performing and non performing residential and small cap commercial mortgages, distressed and investment real estate in northern New Jersey. For more information about Blue Asset Management LLC, log onto the company website at www.blueassetmanagementllc.com or call the company directly at 973 835-1400.
Monday, February 28, 2011
Blue Asset Management Sees Lease to Buy Making Sense in Today’s Real Estate Marketplace
With mortgage restrictions and economic uncertainties making home purchasing difficult for many in the current real estate market, an old real estate marketing strategy is finding its way back to popularity amongst potential sellers and buyers who wish to enter the real estate market but aren’t in a position to close quickly.
According to Charles Blumenkehl, managing partner of Blue Asset Management, the lease to buy scenario has become an acceptable alternative for some of today’s market participants. Blumenkehl said “With prices as attractive as they are, potential buyers are seeking to lock into a purchase without having to fully commit to closing. At the same time, sellers who find they are carrying the costs of properties they no longer wish to own are finding this alternative attractive by allowing the mortgage and most expenses to be covered by their prospective buyer as they await the point in the market that the buyer can potentially close on the property.” Blumenkehl explained “By leasing to buy, typically a buyer will put up a small non-refundable deposit which will be applied against their ultimate purchase price, and then are given the opportunity to accumulate enough of a down payment over the course of their occupancy by paying slightly above current market rents and having the overage added to their down payment.” In so doing, Blumenkehl says that buyers can meet the larger down payment requirements imposed by lenders, and if they don’t want to buy at the end of an agreed upon period of time, they can simply walk away without being saddled with a mortgage on property they decide not to own.
Simultaneously, sellers will either have their houses sold at the end of the occupancy period, or at least will not have to carry the expenses of a vacant mortgaged home while they wait for the housing market to recover. “The result,” Blumenkehl said, “is a win-win for both parties, one by locking into an attractive price and reasonable terms which could enable them to become homeowners when they would otherwise end up leasing without the ability to accumulate equity or take advantage of low housing process in today's market, while sellers are relieved of the pressure of carrying vacant property in these difficult economic times.”
Blumenkehl points out that even if the market recovers and the sellers can get more money for their homes in a year or two, the amount they would have to spend on payments for a vacant home would be more than the potential increase in sales price in many cases. Blumenkehl said that his fund has considered lease to buy on certain properties they currently own, and are seeing more of these type transactions now than they have in prior years.
Charles Blumenkehl is president of Blumenkehl Properties, owner/operator of rental properties throughout northern New Jersey, and managing partner of Blue Asset Management, buyer and seller of non performing mortgages, distressed and investment real estate. For more information about Mr. Blumenkehl and his companies, or to learn more about lease to buy opportunities currently available through Blumenkehl, log onto the company website at www.blueassetmanagementllc.com or call the company at 973 835-1400.
According to Charles Blumenkehl, managing partner of Blue Asset Management, the lease to buy scenario has become an acceptable alternative for some of today’s market participants. Blumenkehl said “With prices as attractive as they are, potential buyers are seeking to lock into a purchase without having to fully commit to closing. At the same time, sellers who find they are carrying the costs of properties they no longer wish to own are finding this alternative attractive by allowing the mortgage and most expenses to be covered by their prospective buyer as they await the point in the market that the buyer can potentially close on the property.” Blumenkehl explained “By leasing to buy, typically a buyer will put up a small non-refundable deposit which will be applied against their ultimate purchase price, and then are given the opportunity to accumulate enough of a down payment over the course of their occupancy by paying slightly above current market rents and having the overage added to their down payment.” In so doing, Blumenkehl says that buyers can meet the larger down payment requirements imposed by lenders, and if they don’t want to buy at the end of an agreed upon period of time, they can simply walk away without being saddled with a mortgage on property they decide not to own.
Simultaneously, sellers will either have their houses sold at the end of the occupancy period, or at least will not have to carry the expenses of a vacant mortgaged home while they wait for the housing market to recover. “The result,” Blumenkehl said, “is a win-win for both parties, one by locking into an attractive price and reasonable terms which could enable them to become homeowners when they would otherwise end up leasing without the ability to accumulate equity or take advantage of low housing process in today's market, while sellers are relieved of the pressure of carrying vacant property in these difficult economic times.”
Blumenkehl points out that even if the market recovers and the sellers can get more money for their homes in a year or two, the amount they would have to spend on payments for a vacant home would be more than the potential increase in sales price in many cases. Blumenkehl said that his fund has considered lease to buy on certain properties they currently own, and are seeing more of these type transactions now than they have in prior years.
Charles Blumenkehl is president of Blumenkehl Properties, owner/operator of rental properties throughout northern New Jersey, and managing partner of Blue Asset Management, buyer and seller of non performing mortgages, distressed and investment real estate. For more information about Mr. Blumenkehl and his companies, or to learn more about lease to buy opportunities currently available through Blumenkehl, log onto the company website at www.blueassetmanagementllc.com or call the company at 973 835-1400.
Monday, February 21, 2011
Blue Asset Management Sees Home Prices Stabilizing in New Jersey
Charles Blumenkehl, managing partner for Blue Asset Management LLC, says home prices in New Jersey have been stabilizing and are even experiencing gains in certain markets.
According to Blumenkehl, “Home sales have been recovering since the fourth quarter of 2010, and the trend is continuing into 2011. Available inventory is being absorbed, distressed properties in many suburban markets are starting to slow down, and with a decrease in housing inventory the real estate market is headed toward recovery.” Blumenkehl continued, “As the employment situation improves, housing will improve. It is now just a matter of time until markets normalize. With interest rates as low as they are, and prices as attractive as they are, it is hard to imagine a better home buying opportunity than the present”.
Blumenkehl points to a recently released survey by the National Association of Realtors which showed the median priced home increasing from $170,300 to $170,600 from the fourth quarter of 2009 to the same period in 2010. The same survey noted that home prices have increased in over half of the 152 Metropolitan Statistics Areas tracked by the study in the fourth quarter of 2010. Blumenkehl added, “As a major metropolitan market serving the New York and local employment hubs, New Jersey is poised for a market rebound in 2011 which will have far reaching effects into the local economies. Increases in consumer spending and employment resultant from these increases will serve as a springboard for further economic recovery in the area as the year unfolds.”
Blue Asset Management was founded by Charles Blumenkehl in 2008 to leverage the real estate investment opportunities which were made available through the mortgages and real estate meltdown in the area over the past few years. For more information about Charles Blumenkehl or Blue Asset Management LLC log onto the company website at www.blueassetmanagementllc.com or contact Blumenkehl directly at 973 835-1400.
According to Blumenkehl, “Home sales have been recovering since the fourth quarter of 2010, and the trend is continuing into 2011. Available inventory is being absorbed, distressed properties in many suburban markets are starting to slow down, and with a decrease in housing inventory the real estate market is headed toward recovery.” Blumenkehl continued, “As the employment situation improves, housing will improve. It is now just a matter of time until markets normalize. With interest rates as low as they are, and prices as attractive as they are, it is hard to imagine a better home buying opportunity than the present”.
Blumenkehl points to a recently released survey by the National Association of Realtors which showed the median priced home increasing from $170,300 to $170,600 from the fourth quarter of 2009 to the same period in 2010. The same survey noted that home prices have increased in over half of the 152 Metropolitan Statistics Areas tracked by the study in the fourth quarter of 2010. Blumenkehl added, “As a major metropolitan market serving the New York and local employment hubs, New Jersey is poised for a market rebound in 2011 which will have far reaching effects into the local economies. Increases in consumer spending and employment resultant from these increases will serve as a springboard for further economic recovery in the area as the year unfolds.”
Blue Asset Management was founded by Charles Blumenkehl in 2008 to leverage the real estate investment opportunities which were made available through the mortgages and real estate meltdown in the area over the past few years. For more information about Charles Blumenkehl or Blue Asset Management LLC log onto the company website at www.blueassetmanagementllc.com or contact Blumenkehl directly at 973 835-1400.
Sunday, February 20, 2011
Blue Asset Management in Market for New Jersey Apartment Buildings
Blue Asset Management LLC, buyer of mortgages, distressed and investment real estate in New Jersey, is seeking to buy apartment complexes and buildings in northern New Jersey.
According to Charles Blumenkehl, managing partner for Blue Asset Management LLC, “We believe we are reaching the bottom of the real estate market. The opportunity to buy residential rental properties and the demand for rentals are as good as we have seen in many years.” Blumenkehl continued, “We are aggressively seeking to add to our existing inventory of residential rental properties and are scouring the northern New Jersey market for opportunities.”
Blumenkehl says his group currently owns over 30 buildings in the northern New Jersey market, including 6 or more buildings each in Hudson, Bergen, Passaic and Morris Counties. Blumenkehl added, “With the residential rental market strengthening substantially, we can’t get apartments quick enough.” Blumenkehl invites anyone who has apartment inventory for sale or knows of buildings for sale in northern New Jersey to contact him directly at the main office of Blue Asset Management LLC in Wayne New Jersey.
Blue Asset Management LLC was founded by Blumenkehl in 2008 to leverage the opportunities which became available as a result of the real estate and mortgage meltdown of the last few years. For more information about Charles Blumenkehl or Blue Asset Management LLC, log onto the company website at www.blueassetmanagementllc.com or call Mr. Blumenkehl directly at 973 835-1400.
According to Charles Blumenkehl, managing partner for Blue Asset Management LLC, “We believe we are reaching the bottom of the real estate market. The opportunity to buy residential rental properties and the demand for rentals are as good as we have seen in many years.” Blumenkehl continued, “We are aggressively seeking to add to our existing inventory of residential rental properties and are scouring the northern New Jersey market for opportunities.”
Blumenkehl says his group currently owns over 30 buildings in the northern New Jersey market, including 6 or more buildings each in Hudson, Bergen, Passaic and Morris Counties. Blumenkehl added, “With the residential rental market strengthening substantially, we can’t get apartments quick enough.” Blumenkehl invites anyone who has apartment inventory for sale or knows of buildings for sale in northern New Jersey to contact him directly at the main office of Blue Asset Management LLC in Wayne New Jersey.
Blue Asset Management LLC was founded by Blumenkehl in 2008 to leverage the opportunities which became available as a result of the real estate and mortgage meltdown of the last few years. For more information about Charles Blumenkehl or Blue Asset Management LLC, log onto the company website at www.blueassetmanagementllc.com or call Mr. Blumenkehl directly at 973 835-1400.
Saturday, February 19, 2011
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Blue Asset Management Selling Millville property
Charles Blumenkehl, managing partner at Blue Asset Management LLC, announced that his fund has listed for sale its remaining Millville asset, a multi family property near the downtown area.
According to Blumenkehl, “Millville is a semi-urban setting that provides for excellent long term investment potential and a strong demand for rentals. However, we decided several months back to focus on our existing and strong northern New Jersey infrastructure more as we divest ourselves of properties like the Millville piece that fall out of our real estate service area.” Blumenkehl continued, “We have listed the property with Steve Crivello of ERA Statewide Realty and are confident in his ability to market the property on our behalf.” For information about the property specifically, Blumenkehl suggests interested parties contact Mr. Crivello at his Medord office directly at 609 714 0050.
According to Blumenkehl, the Millville property is one of app 7 properties currently listed for sale by the fund, which controls real estate equity investments throughout the state. Charles Blumenkehl founded Blue Asset Management LLC in 2008 to leverage the opportunities made available to real estate investors after the mortgage meltdown took its affect on the Real Estate marketplace. For more information about Blumenkehl or Blue Asset Management LLC log onto the company website at www.blueassetmanagementllc.com or call the company directly at 973 835-1400.
According to Blumenkehl, “Millville is a semi-urban setting that provides for excellent long term investment potential and a strong demand for rentals. However, we decided several months back to focus on our existing and strong northern New Jersey infrastructure more as we divest ourselves of properties like the Millville piece that fall out of our real estate service area.” Blumenkehl continued, “We have listed the property with Steve Crivello of ERA Statewide Realty and are confident in his ability to market the property on our behalf.” For information about the property specifically, Blumenkehl suggests interested parties contact Mr. Crivello at his Medord office directly at 609 714 0050.
According to Blumenkehl, the Millville property is one of app 7 properties currently listed for sale by the fund, which controls real estate equity investments throughout the state. Charles Blumenkehl founded Blue Asset Management LLC in 2008 to leverage the opportunities made available to real estate investors after the mortgage meltdown took its affect on the Real Estate marketplace. For more information about Blumenkehl or Blue Asset Management LLC log onto the company website at www.blueassetmanagementllc.com or call the company directly at 973 835-1400.
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