Verona - Blue Realty GMAC opened an Essex County office, merging with the Ultimate Real Estate Group, located at 59 Mount Prospect Avenue in Verona.  Barbara Robinson, Broker of Record of the Ultimate Real Estate Group and Past President of the NJ Association of Realtors, will remain as Office Manager, and her sales staff are remaining as the newly formed Blue Realty GMAC office.

 According to Charles Blumenkehl, president of Blue Realty GMAC, "We are very proud to have Barbara and her staff join our family of realtors.  Barbara is a tremendous real estate resource with a brilliant real estate career spanning 30+ years in the New Jersey marketplace."

 According to Barbara Robinson, who is still very active and serves on statewide board of realtor committees, "I am thrilled to be a part of the Blue family, and to be able to offer our great value proposition to our agents.  We share a high level of integrity and commitment to our industry and clients and I am very excited about our new affiliation."

For more information about the new Verona office of Blue Realty GMAC, contact Barbara Robinson and her staff at the office directly at (973) 571-4112 or visit the office at 59 Mount Prospect Avenue in Verona.  For more information about Blue Realty GMAC or to search for listings throughout New Jersey, log onto www.bluerealty.com

Riverdale - Blue Realty GMAC, with nine offices and over 200 licensed Realtors in New Jersey, has been named to the 2009 RISMedia National Real Estate Power Broker List, ranking 468 in the country in closed real estate transactions and 432 in dollar volume.  The RISMedia National Power Broker List is released every year and contains the names of the top 600 Real Estate Brokerages in the country, ranked by sales units and volume.

According to Charles Blumenkehl, president of Blue Realty GMAC, "Being named to the RISMedia Power Broker List is a great achievement for our company, and a validation of all we have been doing these past few years, and will continue to do.  Like everyone else, we find ourselves faced with the same challenges our peers do.  Our response to these challenges, adding programs and tools that meet the times we are in, including our online real estate presence, superb E-Realty Information Generation platform, Market Value Predictor, and all our other great tools, and most importantly, the people in our company who are doing the work, have allowed us to thrive and grow in this challenging environment.  I always say that a company is only as good as its people, and we are fortunate to have such wonderful people within our company providing great service to the public."

Blumenkehl noted that while his company's average sales price dropped to just under $275,000 statewide in 2008, pointing to a reduction of sales in the Elegant Homes market, their transaction volume jumped 20%, propelling the company to national rankings.  Blumenkehl believes 2009 will mark a year of heightened production, particularly in the first time buyer markets, due in large part to the attractive interest rates and prices along with the tremendous incentives being offered, including an $8,000 credit to all first time buyers who buy before 12/01/09.  "In the 31 years I have active in real estate, I can't recall a time when everything was lined up so perfectly for the first time buyer.  This is the greatest opportunity in history to be buying your home".

For more information about Blue Realty GMAC or to search for real estate in your area, log onto the company website at www.bluerealty.com or call the company toll free at 1-800-936-SOLD/7653.

Riverdale  - Every day, more people slip into the foreclosure whirlpool and spiral downward toward the day they may have to leave their home.  What should you do if you are on the verge of getting a foreclosure notice?

First and foremost, according to Charles Blumenkehl, president of Blue Realty GMAC, exclusive Real Estate Foreclosure Broker for the NJ Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency, you should resist the natural human tendency to freeze up.  Face the issue head on and prepare for days and weeks of making phone calls and corresponding with people who may be able to help.

"Don't assume it's too late to act," said Blumenkehl, "As long as you are residing in the home, you probably have some opportunity to keep your home."

Blumenkehl, a Realtor since 1977 whose company has sold thousands of foreclosed homes on behalf of lenders since 1989, said people facing foreclosure have more avenues to pursue than they might realize - certainly more than the typical "pay up or move out" that many people think is their only choice. According to Blumenkehl, potential solutions include negotiating a modification of the loan, refinancing the loan, listing the home through an agent for a possible "short sale", selling the home to an investor on your own and declaring bankruptcy.

Short sales - in which the lender agrees to take less than is owed on the home, writing off some or all of the loss to avoid the expense of a foreclosure - typically are handled by real estate agents, which at least takes some of the pressure off of a harried homeowner. Many professional real estate agents are working more short sales these days and have buyers lined up looking for bargains, though the process can be slow and frustrating.

"The banks are just not moving quickly. They are sitting on these non performing loans, and it's ridiculous. Hopefully, something will be done to expedite the process, but in the meantime a knowledgeable agent will do their best to streamline the process and get the deal done" said William Lawrence, General Sales Manager with Blue Realty GMAC.  Lenders may also reject short-sale offers, sometimes leaving the seller with little or no time to prevent the foreclosure.

Blumenkehl invites anyone seeking additional information to log onto the company's foreclosure assistance site at njforeclosureassistance.com.  The site will provide insights as to the process, options and terminologies.  For personal assistance in foreclosure work-outs, contact your Blue Realty GMAC Realtor directly at (973) 835-1400  or log onto the company site at www.bluerealty.com.  Blue Realty GMAC is the largest independently owned GMAC Real Estate brokerage in New Jersey with 9 offices servicing northern, western and central New Jersey. Blue Realty GMAC also runs its own Mortgage, Title and Insurance agency.

Riverdale - In a year that brought bad news followed by even more bad news, at least one company found a way to grow their business in 2008.

Blue Realty GMAC Real Estate Services, largest independently owned Real Estate Brokerage firm in the New Jersey GMAC Real Estate network, increased its Residential Sales Volume in 2008, topping all previous office highs. According to Charles Blumenkehl, president of Blue Realty GMAC, "We are very proud of our tremendous achievement in our New Jersey offices. Our success in this very challenging environment is a testimonial to our most valuable asset, our people, and to the tools and support we provide them."

Supporting his agents and company's growth in 2008 were, according to Blumenkehl, a result of his company maintaining their highly effective business model, and creating programs designed to meet today's challenges that lent themselves to the elements of the company's model. Highly effective internet Consumer Relationship Management tools, upgrades in the print and online company marketing systems, introduction of the highly heralded Market Value Predictor, upgrades in the company coaching and support systems were just a few of the reasons Blumenkehl gave for his company's achievement in 2008.

"Success," Blumenkehl continued, "isn't doing any one thing right. Rather, it's doing a combination of things right, and surrounding yourself with the best associates you can. I have always said a company is only as good as the people within it, and we are very proud to have our family of Realtors who make us the great company we believe we are."

Founded by Blumenkehl in 1983, Blue Realty GMAC Real Estate Services maintains 9 sales offices in central, northern and western New Jersey.  For more information about Blue Realty GMAC Real Estate services, log onto the company web site at www.bluerealty.com or call the company directly at (800) 936-SOLD/7653.

Riverdale - With so many realtors uncertain as to where to find the optimum marketing position for their listings today, Blue Realty GMAC has created a product which allows sellers to see the exact market trajectory of their home based on actual local data.  By using the MVP, sellers know what their house will sell for today, 30, 60 and 90 days from now, and can make their moving plans with confidence.  All Blue Realty GMAC Realtors are trained and equipped with the Market Value Predictor platform and will effectively engage their services, along with the Market Value Predictor, at no cost or obligation.

According to Charles Blumenkehl, president and founder of Blue Realty GMAC, "With the Market Value Predictor, we have created more ways for our clients and agents to engage technology resulting in a more successful marketing experience."

Blumenkehl continued, "We see our MVP tool resulting in multimillion dollars in real estate sales, and we envision a time when all Realtors will use similar and accurate pricing tools to correctly advise their clients in any real estate climate."

The Market Value Predictor uses active, pending and closed competing properties, actual average market time for closed properties in the specific area of the property, and then pinpoints the exact price and pricing channel for the subject home.  In doing this, properties will sell at prices that exactly meet the market at the point they are listed for sale.  Properties listed using the MVP have sold as much as 1000% quicker than competing properties on the market.

For more information about the Market Value Predictor or for a no cost, no obligation, confidential presentation of MVP, contact your local Blue Realty GMAC office at (800) 936-SOLD/7653 or email the company at mvp@bluerealty.com, or log onto the company website at www.bluerealty.com.

Riverdale - Buying a foreclosure property may not be a homebuyer's only hope of buying a home, but it may prove to be a great investment for the future if a buyer can find the right one. Today, buying foreclosures is not reserved for the investor, nor are banks necessarily interested in selling their properties strictly to investors. Owner occupants also have the opportunity to look at the foreclosed inventory in the areas they are looking, and see if the house they are looking for, with the things they want in it, happens to be listed for sale as a foreclosed property.

"We have all kinds of buyers looking at our foreclosed inventory, "says Charles Blumenkehl, president of Blue Realty GMAC Real Estate Services.  " We work with buyers who want to buy for short term, long term and mid term investment, buyers who want to live in the home, buyers who are looking to buy something for a family member or help their children get started if the price is right and the rates stay low."  Blumenkehl, who says his company represents over 2 dozen banks in the sale of their foreclosed properties, as well as the State of NJ Housing & Mortgage Finance Agency, said that many of the homes his company sells represent good values in today's market, and as a result sell more rapidly than others may.

The process for buying a foreclosure property through a real estate agent is generally the same as a normal purchase. Buyers must verify their income, have good credit and be able to show they can make their mortgage payments. In many cases, in addition, the bank may want to see proof of the funds the buyer is using to purchase the foreclosed home in a bank account of the buyers, especially if the house cannot get a mortgage because of its condition.

Not all foreclosed properties are for all buyers. Some properties need work, others don't and still others may present unknowns that require a more sophisticated buyer. Most importantly, a buyer should work with an agent who is familiar with foreclosures, understands the banks and the players, and has a reputation for honesty. Blumenkehl continued, "Since we have the good fortune of having both experienced foreclosure agents who only work with bank properties and at the same time enjoy a network of offices throughout New Jersey that service all the local markets, we are able to offer our buyers and sellers the best of both worlds, providing them access to our hundreds of foreclosed properties currently on and coming to the market while offering them premier service and local market knowledge through our network of highly effective Realtors."

Short Sales or pre-foreclosures, allow potential buyers to bargain with the mortgage company.  "Mortgage companies do short sales, the term used when banks allow property to be sold for less than the mortgage balance owed by the seller, when they don't want to keep them on their books," said Blue Realty's William Lawrence. "Often, a mortgage holder is willing to take a lower price for the home.  For instance, it might sell a $200,000 home for $180,000 simply to get rid of it", Lawrence said.  He also pointed out that while many banks and mortgage holders try to work with the buyer and borrower, there is no guarantee they will accept a short offer, and it may take the bank several months to get a response to an offer.

Home buyers should rely on professionals, such as real estate agents and home inspectors, to make informed purchases, said Keri Mason Roth, a partner at Atlanta-based law firm Morris Hardwick Schneider. These professionals can provide information on the neighborhood, tax history, and details about the property, such as lot size, footage or homeowners association dues.

In addition to the foreclosures that they deal with on a day to day basis, Blumenkehl points out that all Real Estate brokers have access to many other types of foreclosure deals available with financing. Through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, properties are available at good prices with as little as $100. Other programs available through the NJ Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency for whom Blue Realty GMAC acts as exclusive Real Estate Broker and Asset Manager make buying a foreclosed home easier and more affordable than ever before.

To learn more about buying foreclosures or seeing foreclosed opportunities in the area, Blumenkehl invites you to visit the local office of Blue Realty GMAC Real Estate Services at 5 Newark Pompton Turnpike in Riverdale call the office at (800) 936-SOLD/7653 or log onto the company's web site at www.bluerealty.com.

Riverdale - The Blue Realty Market Value Predictor, or MVP as its users call it, has created an immediate drop in the number of days on market for homes priced using the MVP model as compared to those which didn't.

According to Timothy Waller, Vice President of Sales at Blue Realty's Wayne, NJ office, "The MVP has helped my clients and me to identify the optimum marketing position for our home without any guesswork involved."

Waller continued, "The Market Value Predictor takes into account current local market data and market trajectory, and can help determine the most probable selling price 30, 60 and 90 days from now."

Since initiating the Market Value Predictor in September of 2008, Blue Realty has improved market time by over 60 days in most cases.  According to William Lawrence, General Manager of Blue Realty," MVP properties are selling in less than half the time of other listed properties."

For more information about the Market Value Predictor and how you can make your home an MVP property, contact your local Blue Realty GMAC office at (800) 936-SOLD/7653 or log onto the company website at www.bluerealty.com.

Riverdale - Everyone agrees, today, pricing a home properly has more to do with its sale than anything.  The challenges of knowing how much to sell or how much to pay for a home complicates many decisions, leading to lost opportunities and value.  In response to today's market, Blue Realty GMAC introduced the Blue Realty Market Value Predictor.  The platform provides real estate clients with precise pricing for their real estate sale or purchase based on actual market statistics for the specific area the property is located in.

Blue Realty GMAC launched the product this fall, and the results were immediately outstanding.  According to William Lawrence, General Manager of the company, "Our Market Value Predictor has assisted homeowners sell their homes much quicker and priced much more accurately than their market competition.  Our values help sellers and buyers maximize their value opportunity while pinpointing the exact price they need to be at exactly that point of time in the market". 

Blue Realty GMAC focuses on providing a high quality service experience for all of its clients.  The company portfolio of services includes a statewide footprint of real estate brokerage offices, mortgage company, title services and insurance services.

For more information about the Market Value Predictor and how you can make your home an MVP property, contact your local Blue Realty GMAC office at (800) 936-SOLD/7653  or log onto the company website at www.bluerealty.com.

Riverdale - Blue Realty GMAC, Asset Manager for the State of New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency and Affordable Housing Manager for the State of New Jersey, is offering foreclosure assistance to NJ residents who are finding themselves challenged by the current economic environment impacting 1 out of 10 homeowners in New Jersey. 

According to Charles Blumenkehl, president of Blue Realty GMAC, "Tens of thousands of homeowners across New Jersey are facing challenges that are outside of their control and threatening their family's security.  We understand that bad things can happen to good people, and we also understand the options available to homeowners in working out their individual dilemmas.  We work with the homeowner to assist them in negotiating loss mitigations, deficiencies and other forms of loss mitigation that will allow them to maximize their benefit in working out their loans." 

Blumenkehl continued, "The recently enacted Hope For Homeowners Mortgage Program, the announcement by several major loan servicers to modify delinquent mortgage terms, incentives offered under the Bush bailout package to lenders offering new mortgages to parties in foreclosure, reducing balances to reflect current market values, and other emerging programs, provide homeowners with options they never had before, the ability to keep their homes, create new equity and be forgiven for prior debt, create a tremendous opportunity for us to assist homeowners in turning a bad situation into a good one.  We will strive to use our deep roots, knowledge and resource in this area, to support our clients in sorting through their options and assist them in the disposition of their real estate needs."

Blue Realty GMAC is the largest independently owned brokerage in the New Jersey GMAC network.  For information about Blue Realty GMAC, including office locations and information about its mortgage, title and insurance agencies, log onto the company website at www.bluerealty.com, or call the company toll free at (800) 936-SOLD/7653.  For more information about foreclosure assistance, log onto www.njforeclosureassistance.com.

Riverdale - As a leading provider of real estate services in New Jersey, Blue Commercial Real Estate leverages the statewide footprint of Blue Realty GMAC on behalf of its clients, to provide a more complete picture of the "For Lease" & "For Sale" opportunities within the local markets surrounding Blue Commercial sales offices.

According to Jack Aquila, Vice President of Blue Commercial, "Blue Commercial Real Estate Services provides outstanding marketing services for commercial properties to a wide audience of buyers and tenants throughout the state.  Our statewide footprint and resources allow our commercial agents to provide specialized services in a highly dynamic marketplace".

For more information about Blue Commercial Real Estate Services, contact the company toll free at 888-890-4430 or logon to the company website at bluecommercial.com.  For more information about Blue Realty GMAC logon to www.bluerealty.com.