Founder, Chairman and CEO
Chairman and CEO at Arbor Realty Trust
Last year's rank: 44
Ivan Kaufman has been closely involved in all aspects of Arbor Realty Trust’s business since he founded it in 1983. “I am not afraid to get into the details of a deal, and often work directly with our originators and meet with clients to get a deal across the finish line or address issues,” he said.
This hands-on approach really paid off last year when business almost exceeded, well, hands. The challenge so many businesses in the U.S. are facing — recruiting and retaining staff — was not an obstacle for Arbor, and it originated $16.1 billion in loans, up 76 percent compared with its record of $9.1 billion in 2020.
“Our firm strategy and business model were validated in 2021, as we could accommodate the surge in demand for transitional financing, single-family rental [financing], and continue to be a leader in the securitization market,” Kaufman said. “It was because of our highly experienced and dedicated management team, and our long-tenured employees, that we were able to compensate for staffing challenges, and have such a productive and fruitful year.”
At a granular level, Kaufman said, “Our teams’ processes have become more efficient from screening deals, issuing quotes, underwriting, closing, funding and servicing. We simply would not have been able to have such a big year if we didn’t become more efficient.”
Big, as in growing Arbor’s balance sheet book 122 percent in 2021. The largest contributor to that growth was a $166.1 million portfolio loan to AJH Management for acquisition of The Commons at White Marsh, a multifamily property in Maryland.
At the firm level, “the rapid growth in our balance-sheet loans has not only contributed to our immediate earnings, but also helped build our future pipeline,” Kaufman said. “Additionally, the return of securitizations, and our position as a leader in [collateralized loan obligation] securitizations, allowed us to generate attractive levered returns on our capital.”
To promote diversity and inclusion, Arbor offers internships to college students with diverse backgrounds through Fannie Mae’s Future Housing Leaders program. —S.P.
