Blitzar Management, founded by industry veterans Mike Simmons and Ben Stasa, provides investors a unique opportunity to participate in residential real estate lending. Recognizing a need in the real estate financing market, they launched their first fund, Blitzar Capital, in 2020 to support experienced real estate professionals encountering bureaucratic hurdles with other lenders. Building on that foundation, Simmons and Stasa recently introduced Express Hard Money, their second fund designed to streamline financing for experienced, qualified borrowers.
From Early Beginnings to Professional Success
The founders' journey began in the 1980s as school friends and evolved into a professional partnership. Simmons started flipping homes in 2008, and by 2015, Simmons and Stasa were acquiring and transforming rental properties, leveraging undervalued assets in the wake of the 2008 financial crisis. Over five years, they expanded their portfolio by purchasing and renovating 20 homes, steadily refining their expertise and operational efficiency. With a deep understanding of the U.S. residential property market, they saw an opportunity to scale a model, offering flexible, targeted funding to professional real estate investors.
Forging Long-Term Partnerships for Sustainable Growth
Blitzar Management's lending strategy is straightforward and effective. First through Blitzar Capital and now Express Hard Money, they focus on a core lending solution: fix-and-flip funding for seasoned rehabbers—term loans that enable borrowers to buy and rehabilitate properties.
Simmons explains, "What makes us different is our commitment to establishing long-term relationships with our borrowers. We get to know them and their business, becoming a trusted partner. They repeatedly turn to us for their financing needs." As a result, Blitzar Management has become a preferred lender within a private network of around 300 professional real estate investors—a group with an annual borrowing need of over $100 million.
These seasoned borrowers rely on Blitzar Management for efficient, streamlined funding to scale their activities. "These are individuals who have been successful through market downturns and the pandemic," Simmons adds, and they share a focus on maximizing real estate opportunities.
Real-Time Insights to Stay Ahead of Market Shifts
A unique aspect of Blitzar Management's approach is Simmons' direct involvement within the real estate investor group, giving him real-time insights into market trends and individual borrower challenges. "Being part of a nationwide group of 300 professionals allows us to stay ahead of market shifts," he shares. This insider perspective—covering local property values, renovation costs, borrower risk profiles, seasonal demands, and regional competition—helps sharpen their underwriting process.
The short-term nature of their loans (typically 4 to 8 months), backed by residential properties, further strengthens this approach. Stasa notes that the brief loan duration minimizes exposure to housing market fluctuations, making the model predictable and reliable.
Meeting Investor Demand with Disciplined Underwriting
Blitzar Management's funds have issued over 130 loans across the United States. According to Stasa, their model "opens up U.S. real estate debt opportunities" for those interested in investing in their funds who may not otherwise have direct access to this lucrative market, which Simmons and Stasa curate.
Express Hard Money is scaling rapidly in response to overwhelming demand, and Blitzar Management often turns away potential borrowers due to high interest in their services. Ashton Global is pleased to spotlight Blitzar Management's proven success and anticipates continued growth as Simmons and Stasa bring targeted financing solutions to the residential real estate space.
