Kaufman & Company Deploys Own Capital to Florida, Sees Distress as Opportunity

Kaufman & Company, the private investment and holding firm led by founder and CEO Daniel Kaufman, announced a dedicated Florida market initiative that will deploy the firm's own capital to acquire land and distressed assets across the state. The move brings existing team members into the firm's Orlando office, which already serves as its Florida base, rather than hiring new staff. The initiative spans Kaufman & Company and its affiliated entities, including Florida-based Convivium Living.

The firm's decision reflects a contrarian bet: it expects significant declines in both land values and existing asset pricing over the next 24 months and intends to be an active buyer throughout that cycle. "We are seeing tremendous distress in Florida right now, and with it, real opportunity," said Daniel Kaufman, Founder and CEO. "I believe over the next two years we will see land and existing assets reprice in a significant way. We intend to be buyers. We are not raising capital, we are not setting up a fund, and we are not taking on investors. This is our own money, and that means when we like a deal, we can move."

That speed and flexibility could be a decisive advantage in a market where traditional capital sources are pulling back. By funding the initiative entirely from its balance sheet, Kaufman & Company avoids the delays of fundraising and investor approvals, allowing it to underwrite on its own timeline and offer sellers, lenders, and brokers a straightforward path to closing. The firm will not form any investment funds or accept outside investors for this effort.

The Florida initiative will focus on land, including entitled, partially entitled, and stalled development sites; existing assets facing capital, lender, or ownership pressure; workforce and attainable housing opportunities; and off-market and lender-driven transactions. Kaufman & Company typically evaluates opportunities in the range of $5 million to $250 million. The Orlando team will work alongside the firm's affiliated development, construction, and housing platforms to evaluate, acquire, and reposition assets.

For Texas, the implications are twofold. First, Kaufman & Company's affiliated entities include LoneStar Kaufman Development Partners and FORGE Development Partners, both of which operate in Texas markets. A major push into Florida could divert resources or, conversely, strengthen the firm's overall platform and ability to execute in both states. Second, the firm's thesis about Florida distress may serve as a leading indicator for other Sun Belt markets. If Florida land and asset values reprice sharply, Texas developers and investors could face similar pressures or opportunities, depending on their capital positions.

Daniel Kaufman has more than 25 years of experience building, lending, and investing across housing markets in Florida, Texas, the Mountain West, Vermont, and the Northeast. He has led investments resulting in over $2 billion in property investments and the financing and development of more than 10,000 housing units. The firm's affiliated entities include Convivium Living, DEK Builds, Kaufman Development, Kaufman Real Estate and Consulting, Oldivai, FORGE Development Partners, LoneStar Kaufman Development Partners, and Kaufman Ventures.

For those tracking real estate cycles, Kaufman & Company's move is a clear signal that some investors see the current disruption as a generational buying opportunity. The firm is not waiting for a fund or a partner; it is deploying its own balance sheet. More information is available at thekaufmanco.com.