MIAMI—Ezra Katz has been navigating real estate cycles for the past 35 years—in Florida and across North America. Katz oversees two companies that operate side-by-side: Aztec Group, which arranges for third-party financing; and affiliate Mayan Properties, which provides direct equity investment sourced from the firm's network of investors and its own principals.

All told, Katz has been involved in transactions across all asset classes totaling in excess of $10 billion. Now, with fresh investment dollars coming off the sidelines once again and developers and buyers hungry for capital, Katz and his team are hard at work on some of the largest projects underway in South Florida, including the development of a new Hyatt Place near Miami International Airport, the CIVICA project in the Miami Health District, and Biscayne Landing in North Miami.

GlobeSt.com caught up with Katz to talk about what Mayan is doing on the capital markets front in part one of this exclusive series. Come back this afternoon for part two of this interview.

GlobeSt.com: Your firm is unique in that you originate both debt and equity financing, with your own team members investing alongside your clients in many cases. How have you made this model work?

Katz: Our ability to arrange for both debt and equity financing is certainly unique, but we have been working to perfect the model for the past 30 years. While we have complete flexibility in the way we conduct business, we will only act as investment principals when a client comes to us seeking equity from the beginning of the transaction.

If that same client approaches us seeking debt or a combination of debt and equity, then we'll act as a third-party intermediary. We won't shift strategies midstream. This works because we're fully transparent and enjoy strong relationships with our clients based on clear communication and positive results.

GlobeSt.com: Mayan Properties has invested in more than 30 properties within the past three years alone. What's fueling this surge of activity coming out of the recession?

Katz: There is a sense of certainty in the market for the first time in several years. This is leading to renewed confidence among investors and a return to deployment of capital for us.

Investor interest has been met with more financing alternatives and favorable interest rates. All of these factors are spurring one of the strongest commercial real estate markets I've witnessed in many years. Mayan Properties is simply an active investor in tandem with our partners.

GlobeSt.com: Overseas investors have been the most prominent investor class, but you are working with many domestic family offices. What types of investments are family offices targeting?

Katz: Family offices are a growing group likely to fund direct investments in real estate assets, in addition to traditional funds. These families are often more conservative when it comes to allocating their capital, so they are typically geared to income-generating assets that offer long-term cash flow.

For this reason, they tend to shy away from residential for-sale product such as condos. Target asset classes include multifamily apartments, retail shopping centers, office buildings and possibly hotels. No matter the investment, family offices strive to create long-term, sustainable cash flow while preserving wealth.