“If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.”
– African Proverb
Professional Background
During his career in real estate, Eric NeSmith has lead clients through all levels of real estate development and investment transactions. His career began in his hometown of Newark, New Jersey as a real estate investment analyst at Prudential Financial. At Pru, he lead the analysis for more than 100 acquisition and refinancing investment opportunities for properties spanning office, retail, hospitality, industrial and multifamily. His deals ranged from $3MM to $65MM. Always up for a challenge, Eric took his expertise to JP Morgan Chase where his deal size grew to include portfolios in excess of $1BN. Eric would split his nearly four years at JPMorgan Chase among two different roles. In his first role, Eric lead the credit analysis for a number of debt positions in commercial real estate properties across all US markets. In his second role at JPMorgan, Eric turned his attention to affordable housing and joined the community development bank, where he both lead analysis for financing over 3,500 units of affordable housing in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions, and managed a development portfolio exceeding $365MM. For the past year, Eric has served as a Director at HR&A Advisors, a boutique real estate and economic development advisory firm, where he focuses on advising clients in real estate and urban development matters.
About Me
Growing up in his Central Ward Newark neighborhood, Eric had a direct view of the Manhattan skyline. From an early age he wondered about the buildings and the people who own them. Previously thought to be elusive or inaccessable, his time in the real estate industry has taught him that is a myth. There are in-fact opportunities available to the entrepreneur and experienced investor. The gap lies between the “boots on the ground” and the institutional quality analysis needed to achieve both financial and socio-economic goals and that’s where Black Star Real Estate Advisors cuts its cloth. Motivated by the disparity of economic prosperity and built environment between the disinvested community he called home and nearby New York City, Eric is committed to closing the gap.
Eric has achieved at every level. At age 13, he earned an academic scholarship from the Newark-based Wight Foundation and went on to attend The Hill School in Pottstown, PA. While at Hill, Eric was the captain of his football team, and both the indoor and outdoor track teams. He went on to play football at Amherst College, earning a starting spot as a sophomore, while also completing a double major in Economics and Black Studies. In addition to his academic and athletic commitments, Eric was also elected to be the Co-President of the Charles Drew Memorial Cultural House (Black Cultural Residence Hall). When he’s not trying to conquer the real estate world, Eric is a loving husband to his wife, Makeda, and father of two (daughter Nina and son coming soon).
Black Star Real Estate Advisory 