As founder of the Arbor real estate finance and investment companies, Ivan Kaufman brings more than 30 years of real estate finance experience to the Arbor platform, with a significant track record of success across both the residential and commercial markets.

Since forming Arbor National Holdings and its subsidiary, Arbor National Mortgage, in 1983, Mr. Kaufman has taken Arbor and its various companies through a series of expansions, acquisitions and real estate cycles, resulting in one of the more diversified real estate franchises in the United States. Today, Mr. Kaufman serves as Chairman, President and CEO of Arbor Realty Trust, a leading national multifamily lender and mortgage real estate investment trust listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE:ABR). In addition to leading Arbor Realty Trust, Mr. Kaufman also serves as a Principal for Arbor Multifamily Acquisition Company (AMAC), an acquirer of multifamily properties which he established in 2012, and as the CEO of ArborCrowd, an online real estate investment platform which he formed in 2016.

Earlier in his tenure, Mr. Kaufman grew Arbor National Holdings and Arbor Mortgage into a 25-branch residential loan origination group, with an annual volume of $4 billion at its peak. Active in 11 states and the largest provider of residential loans in the greater New York area, Arbor Mortgage eventually went public on the New York Stock Exchange in 1992, and was sold to Bank of America three years later.

Mr. Kaufman has served on Fannie Mae’s National and Regional Advisory Boards and the Empire State Mortgage Bankers Association’s Board of Directors. In addition, he was named an Entrepreneur of the Year by Inc. in 1990.

A graduate of Hofstra School of Law and Boston University, Mr. Kaufman earned a JD and BA in business from these respective institutions.