Ezra Katz

Ezra Katz

A headshot photo of a smiling older man wearing a suit what a peach and blue tie.

Ezra Katz

Founder & Chief Executive Officer

As Chief Executive Officer and Founder of Aztec Group, Ezra Katz has been described as Florida’s leading real estate deal maker and financial engineer focusing on initiating innovative strategies for creating joint ventures and solving complex real estate transactions.

Mr. Katz began his real estate career in 1971 after having graduated from Ohio State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Engineering. After having spent three years in the residential construction business as a Construction Superintendent in Cleveland, Ohio, Mr. Katz joined US Realty Investments, a NYSE equity REIT, where he oversaw development, management and workouts of over 50 properties throughout the US and Puerto Rico.


After liquidating the assets of US Realty Investments in 1980, Mr. Katz formed Aztec Group in 1981 to provide commercial real estate and mortgage brokerage services for investment sales, mortgage financing, and equity placement. Under his leadership, Aztec Group became recognized as the premier real estate investment banking firm in Florida.

Mr. Katz formed Mayan Properties, a merchant bank, in 1993 to invest in real estate transactions as a principal in a variety of partnerships including a diverse portfolio of office buildings, shopping centers, residential land development, hotels, industrial, and healthcare/senior housing. The combination of Aztec Group as an investment banker and Mayan Properties as a merchant bank allowed Mr. Katz to be involved in over $12 billion in closed transactions as a principal and as an intermediary/broker.

EDUCATION

B.S. in Industrial Engineering; Ohio State University

LICENSURE

Licensed Real Estate Broker, Florida

Licensed Mortgage Loan Originator, Florida