Nick Buckner
By Joshua Burd
BNE Real Estate Group has named a new director of acquisitions, as the family-owned firm looks to build its development pipeline in the tristate area.
In the new role, Nick Buckner will lead all acquisitions efforts for Livingston-based BNE, with responsibilities ranging from sourcing new deals to facilitating underwriting efforts to providing support throughout the acquisition, predevelopment and development process, according to a news release. In his pursuit of new opportunities, he will focus primarily on prospective ground-up residential and mixed-use projects.
“As we continue to expand our development presence, we are excited to add Nick to our leadership team,” said Jonathan Schwartz, a partner at BNE Real Estate Group. “With extensive knowledge of the markets we’re active in and looking to enter, and a wealth of experience in managing all aspects of the land acquisition process, Nick will be a valuable contributor to our growth in 2023 and beyond.”
Buckner brings more than 10 years of land acquisition experience to BNE, the news release said. He most recently was a director of land acquisition at D.R. Horton, the largest homebuilder by volume in the United States, where he oversaw a pipeline of more than $1 billion in land and development commitments throughout New Jersey.
Prior to that, Buckner worked in land acquisition for Lidl US, where he was responsible for the overall strategy and new store development in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware.
“I am delighted to join BNE, a company with a strong reputation for quality development and a long-term commitment to the communities it invests in,” Buckner said. “I look forward to working with the rest of the team as we push to strategically grow our portfolio.”
His hiring comes as BNE embarks on an active 2023, with grand openings and groundbreakings planned throughout the state. The firm this year plans to open The Hillmont, a 175-unit luxury property in Hillsborough, while it also has projects under construction such as a 245-unit community with 38,000 square feet of upscale amenity space in Chatham and a collection of 425 luxury homes and 45,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor amenities in West Orange.
BNE is also developing the second phase of its transformative waterfront rental community in South Amboy, Station Bay, which will add 205 luxury residences and 26,000 square feet of amenities to the existing site. Located on the Raritan Bay and next to the South Amboy train station, with a commuter ferry terminal slated for an adjacent property, the site is already home to a 291-unit first phase that leased up in October.
