You know how dodgy things can get when you're trolling the New York City commercial real estate market for financing. One name that has always been trusted for connecting borrowers and lenders is Andrew Jubelt.

Andrew Jubelt can help you at every stage of the game, including helping to secure a bridge loan for your investment real estate project. He has decades of experience in real estate financing, including as a developer, owner and operator of commercial real estate,

Andrew Jubelt knows his way around a real estate investment project. Moreover, with his experience as a principal at Avant Capital Partners, Jubelt brings a definite gravitas to the table.

Oftentimes in real estate financing, there will be major holdups along the way. Administratively, things could be held up ... and yet practically speaking, you still have workers on-site who need to be paid. At the very least, you're looking at hefty fines and penalties for paperwork not being filed, taxes not being paid and fees being levied, all because financing you thought was adequately in place had actually fallen through.

Bridge loans are a great tool for anyone who finds themselves in such a situation. Maybe you're receiving your financing in stages, for instance, and find yourself in the situation of having to wait days -- or even weeks -- for the financing to clear and post to your account. This is a perfect example of a situation during which a bridge loan can come in handy. Depending on your circumstance and the bridge loan officer you're working with, you may even be able to obtain financing with low or absent points.

Another example: If you're in the predicament of wanting to close quickly on a property but find yourself waiting on the financing, a short-term bridge loan may be a good solution -- until you've retained more solid, long-term financing, of course.

Whatever your financing needs -- and whatever the length of your financing -- you should reach out to Andrew Jubelt at Avant Capital Financing. As unusual or non-standard as your circumstances may be, Andrew Jubelt has almost certainly dealt with a similar situation in the past, and he may be able to help you realize your investment real estate project goals.

We understand that you have many choices when it comes to finding short-term financing for real estate investment projects, and that's just one reason why Andrew Jubelt will work so hard for you and your business. What's more, his years of experience and his contacts within the industry promise to move your project at a surprisingly rapid clip, and with less interruptions than some other lenders may run into.

If you'd like to learn more about obtaining a bridge loan for your commercial real estate financing, contact Andrew Jubelt today. He's available to discuss the needs of all borrowers, regardless of whether you're interested in short-term financing, original financing, or potential options to exit an existing loan.

Andrew Jubelt is here to listen, ask questions, and help when he can.

As a principal at Avant Capital Partners, Andrew Jubelt can assist in providing a broad range of loan programs that can provide you or your clients with the commercial real estate funding you need. Contact Andrew Julbelt at ajubelt@avant-capital.com, or call 212-231-9779 for more information.

Investors seeking information about real estate trends often look toward the annual PricewaterhouseCoopers (PWC) report, "Emerging Trends in Real Estate". This forecast is a well-respected outlook for the real estate and land use industry, and this year, it includes the following trends that will be of interest to commercial real estate investors:

The Changing Age Game

Baby boomers used to rule the roost in terms of numbers, but millennials are now an even larger group. Usually defined as people born between 1982 and 2004, this group is 87.3 million strong, with an average age of 24. 

Millennials often rent longer and postpone homeownership. Their preferences could change, however, as they start to get a little older -- as soon as the 2020s. Survey respondents are split, however, on what choices they think millennials will make as they age. For now, Denver, Austin, and San Francisco are benefiting from their popularity with millennials. These cities are ranked in the top five for job growth.

The smaller Generation Z will also emerge, and the real estate industry will have to prepare for a nation consisting of fewer new households, consumers, and people entering the workforce.

Baby boomers’ influence isn't over, however. Some will still be a part of the workforce, and others will retire, but they’ll have a significant impact on real estate investment and development for at least the next 20 years.

Labor Markets are Reaching a Tipping Point

Although we were worried about the "jobless recovery," trends are heading the opposite way in the long term. We’re likely to experience labor shortages, not surpluses, within a few years, according to the PWC report. Job issues are at the top of the list of the most important issues influencing real estate, respondents say. Job growth tops the list, followed by wage and income growth.

Job growth is expected to be fueled by technology and energy sectors. Several cities have benefited from an infusion of tech and energy-related jobs in the past two years, including Seattle, Atlanta, and Chicago. These industries are also having a particularly large impact on Texas, with the Dallas/Ft. Worth area and Houston having had the highest tech and energy job growth numbers in the country during the past two years.

Jobs are indeed chasing people, and cities expected to have the highest job growth in the next three years are clustered in the Southwest, the Southeast, and Texas.

Event Risk is Here to Stay

Event risk -- including global unrest, geopolitical risks, and natural disasters -- is a concern for an increasing number of interviewees. Geopolitical risks grew both in number and in intensity in 2014 and threatened to become even greater.

As a result, international investment in U.S. real estate has grown across dozens of markets. Real estate holds great appeal as an asset that remains durable in a volatile world. Foreign capital is highly concentrated in gateway cities like Phoenix, Houston, and Dallas for apartments, and Hawaii and South Florida for hotels. Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Miami, and Brooklyn are tops in attracting development capital.

This country’s diversity is a strength as well as a shield, according to PWC’s report. Its strength is that in a risky world, it’s a good place to invest money and find markets and real estate opportunities that match a variety of investors’ preferences. It’s a shield because the complexity of the U.S. economy makes for greater resilience.

If you want to learn more about the latest emerging trends in real estate, Andrew Jubelt, an experienced developer, owner, and operator of commercial real estate, can help. Contact him at ajubelt@avant-capital.com or 212-231-9779.

If you’re looking for information about where to invest in commercial real estate, PricewaterhouseCoopers (PWC) has published its "Emerging Trends in Real Estate" report for over 35 years. In its recently released forecast, the following trends are among those expected to emerge:

Real Estate’s Love/Hate Relationship with Technology Intensifies

Real estate will continue to have a love/hate relationship with technology. Fear of technical disruption is easing, though, which is a good thing, considering that no form of real estate is exempt from the expansion of technology.

Survey respondents see technology opening new business paths, even when traditional industries may be lagging. It’s pushing change in space use, locations, and demand levels. Fear of technology is subsiding somewhat.

Office demand, which was once driven by financial firms, is expected to be driven by technology and media industries. Tech companies once impacted suburban communities, but now the focus is more urban.

Some respondents think we don’t yet know what the result of current changes will be. The sharing economy, in which groups such as millennials are comfortable sharing rather than owning, is already disrupting taxi and hotel industries and may also affect office properties. Excess space could be offered to other companies, by either the landlord or the tenant.

A Darwinian Market Keeps the Squeeze on Companies

Unrelenting competition makes the need for a clear "brand identity" increasingly important. Efficiency and effectiveness will not only be what investors expect -- they’ll also filter down to service providers.

Institutional investment is expected to be influenced by a desire for more control on the part of the largest investors. Capital sources will expect more services for less money.

The ongoing trend toward outsourcing could be somewhat replaced by bringing real estate talent in-house, reducing costs and improving accountability. Consolidation could increase if this trend grows.

Capital raising, already difficult for mid-tier managers, has become more difficult in Europe with the Alternative Investment Fund Managers Directive (AIFMD). These regulations increase reporting and compliance requirements. Some firms may not be able to afford these conditions, so the number of private equity and hedge fund firms seeking capital in Europe may decline. The field may become overpopulated as more players looked toward Europe for cash, followed by an inevitable winnowing.

Housing Steps off the Roller Coaster

The real estate bubble and the ensuing collapse seem to be put in the past. Residential real estate is expected to return to the classic principles of supply and demand. Confidence in residential real estate should increase -- a positive trend for the entire economy.

This hopeful outlook is due to the fact that the number of U.S. households has grown steadily, even as the housing market struggled. Demand for rental housing rose, while single-family-home construction fell markedly. Over several years, this translates into a huge shortfall in new for-sale units. The shortfall is now 9 million homes, which has enabled the "months of supply" figure to stay around five months since late 2012. Existing-home sales averaged about 2.1 million during the same period. This point of balance for single-family residential has stayed steady.

Disposable income growth has lagged for households, and prices aren’t re-inflating to bubble levels. Moderate price increases are anticipated, with only minor ups and downs in existing-home sales.

It’s a healthy, boring market that’s anticipated -- a welcome relief from the huge swings in housing over the past decade.

Andrew Jubelt, a principal at Avant Capital Partners, can advise you on commercial real estate investing and provide you with the funding you need. Contact him at ajubelt@avant-capital.com, or call 212-231-9779

If you've been contemplating getting your feet wet with investing in a commercial property but just haven't pulled the trigger, now is the time to do it. 

We are currently living through one of the most attractive commercial real estate markets for investors. Taking advantage of some of the investment properties available today will likely yield you a return that is much better than some fixed income alternatives. When that return is paired with a strong stream of cash flow and appreciation of the property, investing in today's commercial real estate market is considered to be a very prudent decision. 

Here are some reasons why the current commercial real estate market is so attractive to investors:

Interest Rates Continue to Remain Low

As of February 2015, the Prime Rate (the rate that many banks use to price commercial loans) still continues to be 3.25 percent, which is a historically low level. LIBOR, another interest rate index that is often factored into pricing commercial loans, is also hovering at one of the lowest levels it has been in decades. While no one has a crystal ball to predict what interest rates are going to do in the future, we can feel fairly certain that interest rates have no where else to go but up. Financing a property at these historically low levels can allow you to get more for your money and make a smarter investment.

High Demand for Rentals

It makes sense that smart real estate investors follow the jobs and people. With the population and job growth that New York City has consistently offered, there is always going to be a demand for real estate rentals in the city, whether it be for a multifamily property or office space. 

If you're in tune with the latest commercial real estate trends in New York, you'll know that telecommuting is on the rise. In an effort to cut costs, more companies are allowing employees to work from home, which causes these companies to have less of a need for office space. For this reason, we'll likely see an increased demand for residential rental properties in 2015. 

Investors Are Armed With More Information to Make Smarter Purchases

A plethora of resources via the Internet are available to investors to help them more accurately determine how much a property is worth before making a purchase decision. Having this access to real-time data of a property's performance can provide a clearer picture of the risk and return the investor would be getting before making the purchase.

Avant Capital Partners can help you take advantage of the incredible opportunities available in today's commercial real estate market. Andrew Jubelt, a principal at Avant Capital Partners, is a successful investor himself, owning and operating several commercial and residential properties, which include more than 10,000 senior housing and multifamily units in the area. His extensive knowledge of New York's one-of-a-kind real estate market and financing expertise allow him to serve as a valuable partner for anyone considering investing in commercial real estate. 

Are you interested in learning more about why now is the time to invest in commercial real estate? Start the process by contacting Andrew Jubelt at 212-231-9779 or email him at ajubelt@avant-capital.com. Taking advantage of the favorable conditions of today's market will go a long way in helping you to secure a smart investment. 

Investors looking for commercial real estate opportunities in 2015 should turn their eyes toward Texas. Three of the five cities expected to be the hottest markets this year are in the Lone Star state. They benefit from having low costs of living and low costs of doing business, combined with excellent livability and employment.

Experts generally regard the following cities as the top five for commercial real estate investing opportunities in 2015:

1. Houston

Houston’s energy, education and health industries are expected to drive demand for commercial real estate, although energy has been somewhat slowed by the decline in oil prices. Trade and transportation job growth was strong last year, and it’s expected to continue to support demand for industrial space. The city has very high investment, development, and housing market expectations. It’s strong across the board, with high expectations in the industrial, retail, office, multifamily, and hotel sectors. Houston is attractive to a wide variety of real estate investors, particularly those interested in institutional investing. Real estate capital availability is predicted to be strong, as is the local economy.

2. Austin

Austin has a strong industrial base, and it's a city that enjoys a low cost of doing business. The area is thriving in the office, retail, and single-family housing sectors. It’s a popular destination for millennials and has a diverse, thriving population that attracts potential employees. It also has a relatively low cost of living. Austin is ranked a little lower than others in the top five for investment in industrial, hotels, and the multifamily sector, since it’s not a distribution hub. Locals have confidence in the strength of Austin’s economy, however, and there’s a strong level of market participation by local owners and developers.

3. San Francisco

San Francisco was also a popular commercial real estate hot spot last year, and it’s not expected to slow down in 2015. It has a strong local economy and improved domestic and international travel. San Francisco is particularly strong in hotel investment, as well as in the office and retail markets. The industrial sector is ranked somewhat lower. It also shares something in common with several other cities on the top five list – it’s popular with millennials. Housing – both multifamily and single-family sectors – are expected to be strong. A high level of available capital should keep San Francisco’s investor interest high.

4. Denver

Denver is also popular with millennials and has thriving energy and technology industries. It also has strong retail and office investment. The industrial sector is ranked somewhat lower than others, but has shown improvement. The multifamily sector is ranked somewhat lower amidst concerns of a cooling-off period, but single-family housing is stronger. Public and private investors are strongly attracted to Denver, and its strong local economy and local development community continue to work in its favor.

5. Dallas/Fort Worth

This area benefits from economic diversity that’s likely to sustain a high level of job growth. Dallas/Fort Worth has a low cost of living and doing business, both of which help fuel job growth as well as the single-family housing market. Among the top five cities, it has the highest ranked industrial sector. The multifamily housing and retail sectors are not expected to do quite as well, due to supply concerns. The market is attractive to local and institutional commercial and home developers. It has a strong local economy, available capital, and an active development community.

Andrew Jubelt, a principal at Avant Capital Partners, can advise you on commercial real estate investing and provide you with the funding you need. Contact Andrew Jubelt at ajubelt@avant-capital.com, or call 212-231-9779.

What is the current state of the real estate market?

This is a question that anybody interested in commercial real estate should be asking themselves constantly. Why? Because CRE is a constantly shifting industry, and one that is dominated by trends.

That being said, here are the top five commercial real estate trends that are both defining and reshaping the industry right now:

1. Telecommuting is in the Rise

Computers are making everything easier, including people's jobs. They are making jobs so much easier to do, in fact, that many professionals can now work from the comfort of their own homes. This, combined with the fact that many companies see a reduction in office space as an effective cost cutter, has led to a significant increase in the amount of telecommuters. Some companies are even paying employees' rent, decreasing the need for roommates.

Because of this change, one can expect that there will be a reduction in office space use, with an increased demand for residential properties.

2. Fewer Flyers, More Online Ads

Studies have shown that online marketing can produce better results at a lower cost than offline marketing. Studies have shown that a helpful blog post, for example, is 63 percent more likely to influence a purchase than a print magazine ad. This rule applies to just about every industry, including commercial real estate. Adept CRE investors are recognizing this trend, and spending their marketing dollars on online strategies instead of traditional 'interruption' marketing campaigns.

3. The Impending Millennial Surge

The Millennial generation is so numerous that they outnumber even the baby boomers, which were once the largest generation the United States had ever seen. This generation also rents a lot. They rent so often, in fact, that some people believe the widespread notion of home ownership will fade away with the Millennials. Commercial real estate experts, however, expect there to be a huge surge in millennial home purchases in the 2020s, when a large portion of this generation will be ready to settle down.

4. Small Cities are Becoming Metropolises

Many people love big cities such as New York and Los Angeles -- they have incredibly diverse cultures and they seem to operate 24 hours per day. There is just one problem: These cities are extremely expensive to live in.

However, the high demand for the easy access of an urban lifestyle -- especially by the millennial generation -- has led to interesting shifts in the culture of smaller, less bustling cities. Many small cities are transforming into 18-hour cities, which are microcosms of their much larger 24-hour counterparts. As a result, commercial real estate investments are surging in these areas.

5. A Spike in High-Tech Photography

Just about every industry, including commercial real estate, has succumbed to the influence of the web. As such, a high percentage of commercial real estate transactions begin via an online interaction. This increased use of the web has led to a high level of competition to attract the interest buyers, renters, investors, etc., especially on listing websites. In order to stand out from the crowd, people are taking better pictures of their properties. And this doesn't just mean HD photos with the latest smartphone, either. High-tech photography solutions, including DSLRs and even drones (for aerial shots) and 3-D virtual tours are becoming the norm.

. . . . . . . . . .

Commercial real estate has undoubtedly become a part of the tech boom.

As this article has shown, most of the current commercial real estate trends revolve around our burgeoning reliance on modern technology, and the digital natives who are most likely to use it (Millennials). Anybody who wants to keep up has to take technology seriously, and figure out how it can benefit their commercial real estate endeavors.

Want to learn more about how the latest CRE trends should be influencing your investment decisions? Contact Andrew Jubelt at ajubelt@avant-capital.com or 212-231-9779.

Energy retrofits are often considered to be too expensive by businesses. The surprising truth, however, is that most alterations to a building's energy structure are very affordable, as long as they're approached in the right way.

Here are seven common ways to help finance such a project:

1. PACE Loans

The Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) program is an ongoing initiative that allows for tax liens to be used in financing. These are especially valuable for larger projects, as they can be repaid over as many as 30 years, and nearly any profitable property can easily work that into its plans. It's worth noting that most retrofits will not take this long to pay off -- between three and five years is a normal payback period for most properties.

2. Financing From Utilities

Most utility departments run incentive programs to help property owners reduce the amount of energy they use. Not every utility company will offer major loans, but at the very least, companies can expect to save significantly on energy-efficient equipment like new lighting fixtures.

3. Tax Credits

These vary by region, but property owners will usually be able to cut some of the cost of the installation from their taxes. If the business actually pays taxes to begin with, this is effectively a direct discount in the price -- albeit one that only comes into effect when taxes would normally be due, rather than paying it off right away.

4. ESCO

The Energy Service Company (ESCO) model is one of the more recent ideas for renovating buildings. In essence, the ESCO company performs the upgrades to the building and often sells the power later on, after which they enter into a profit-sharing agreement where they are paid off over time. This is affordable for nearly any business, as long as the amount of profit shared is less than the costs saved by the retrofit. Keep in mind, however, that ESCO financing may not always be eligible for combining with other forms of financing. It's unlikely, for example, that a property owner can claim tax deductions if they're not the ones paying directly for the retrofit.

5. Leasing Equipment

While this isn't practical for large-scale projects, leasing programs (or, better, lease-to-own agreements) can provide properties with access to energy-efficient equipment at minimal up-front costs.As with ESCO financing, the goal is to ensure that the company is able to save more money through the use of the equipment than it spends for borrowing it. When this is the case, even minimally-profitable properties can afford the retrofit they've been looking for.

6. Bond Financing

This is one of the least-used methods of financing an energy retrofit, but it may become more popular in the future as companies realize its value. Private municipal or corporate bonds offer the ability to fund multiple smaller transactions and scale the costs of the retrofit to what a buyer is able to pay for.

7. Capital Expenditures

This is the most common method of financing an energy retrofit, yet businesses should consider this their final option instead of their first. Simply put, many of the opportunities listed above offer ways to reduce some or all of the costs associated with a retrofit project, and using several of these techniques (such as tax credits, utility financing and lease-to-own agreements, all at the same time) can drastically reduce the amount of capital that needs to be expended for the property. Most retrofits are too expensive to be paid off right away, so businesses planning to pay through this method should consider using loans, leases, or other pay-over-time agreements to finance the retrofit.

As a principal at Avant Capital Partners, Andrew Jubelt can advise you on any CRE energy retrofit projects you may be considering. He can also provide you or your clients with the commercial real estate funding you need. Contact Andrew Jubelt at ajubelt@avant-capital.com or call 212-231-9779.