“It was always our dream to open our own restaurant and luckily the property we decided to purchase was being sold by Bielat & Santore & Company, Allenhurst, New Jersey. It was a bank owned foreclosure, so it was no ordinary commercial transaction. Richard Santore, a partner in Bielat Santore & Company, not only walked us through the entire process, he also helped get us a very fair price, making it a deal we could not refuse.
But that was just the beginning; since we were first time restaurant owners purchasing a foreclosed bank own property, securing a loan for a startup was proving to be impossible. When an initial lender failed to provide financing four months into the process, we thought the deal was dead. Not Richard! He refused to give up and somehow found another lender willing to take a chance on two women starting up a new business with no previous restaurant ownership.
THEN, when the appraisal came in inappropriately low. Richard and his partner Barry Bielat spent an entire day refuting the appraisal and providing market data that correctly contradicted the errors and miscalculations of the appraiser. After reviewing their report, the lender agreed to move forward and fund the loan.
Richard was with us step by step throughout the entire process; even helping us find a reputable attorney familiar with real estate and liquor license transactions and a quality insurance agent. He never once questioned our passion or decision to leap into the restaurant business. He simply dedicated himself to help us and make it happen! We will only use Bielat & Santore & Company for our next commercial real estate transaction!”