Name: Robert Dorfman
Title: President
Company: Dorfman Capital
Location: Cotuit, Mass.
Birthplace and year: Worcester, Mass., 1951
Family: 4 daughters: Lindsay, Jackie, Stefanie and Caroline
College: Tufts University, BA, liberal arts; Boston University, MBA
First job outside of real estate: Citizen Group Publications - advertising sales
First job in real estate or allied field: National Bank of North America (Bank America) - corporate finance trainee
What do you do now and what are you planning for the future? Extreme makeovers, i.e. - finance historic restoration projects which transform communities. Special interest in aquatic and marine preservation.
Hobbies: Swimming, boating, nature walking, playing the guitar
Favorite book: "The Power of Kabbalah" by Yohuda Berg
Favorite movie: "Legend of Bagger Vance"
Person you admire most (outside of family): Sarano Kelley
Key to success: Expand in the face of contraction
If you had to choose another vocation what would it be? Athletic coaching
Over the last three to four decades, many successful real estate developers, sponsors, syndicators and operators have built substantial portfolios of commercial real estate using high-net-worth investor capital. Through careful acquisitions, development expertise, market appreciation and operational oversight, these sponsors have amassed portfolios worth tens or even hundreds of millions of dollars.
The purpose of this article is to address problematic or confusing issues which may help assessors and appraisers to better understand how to value real estate for tax assessment purposes.
Over the past several weeks, I have completed appraisal assignments for private clients. Interestingly, after submitting these appraisals, I received several phone calls – not to question the value, content, or any incorrect information, but rather to discuss the price per s/f compared to the comparable sales used in the report.
Our current, highly competitive real estate market poses specific challenges for investors who are considering taking advantage of a tax-deferred 1031 exchange. In this market, investors will have no problem selling their current property if priced properly, but they may find it difficult to find a suitable replacement property
Attention to owners of real estate in the Commonwealth (and the title companies and other professionals who advise them), the Massachusetts Department of Revenue (the “DOR”) recently adopted a new “millionaire’s tax” via 830 CMR 62B.2.4