Shahid Jafri, Jafri Capital, LLC

Name: Shahid Jafri

Title: Founder

Company Name: Jafri Capital, LLC

What was the most challenging part of working during the pandemic?
The COVID-19 pandemic was a challenge, especially since our firm did not experience the 2008 crisis. We recently formed a new culture including junior and senior level resources and collaborative work. My firm was able to remain unphased and adapt to the “new normal” very nimbly, implementing work-from-home practices to maximize our platform to succeed during today’s digital revolution. In the past few months, Jafri Capital has closed both equity and debt transactions. Furthermore, we have invested in multiple data sources, deal management cloud-based operations and are highly focused on collecting, managing, and analyzing data to evaluate and underwrite commercial real estate opportunities across the capital stack.

What are your predictions for commercial real estate in 2021?
We predict commercial lending to continue to be active on the debt side, specifically within the healthcare real estate space covering life sciences, assisted living, and senior living. We anticipate adding value on bridge-to-permanent scenarios where we can add value through special situation and structured financing options at a minimal cost leading to a conventional take out. Furthermore, we predict that industrial and multifamily will continue to attract equity investor interest within the Northeast and Southeast regions. Our exclusive extensive equity capital investor network continues to rely on us for actionable investment opportunities.

What was your greatest professional accomplishment in 2020?
In 2020, Jafri Capital was able to establish its footprint within the commercial real estate finance space, successfully introducing established real estate sponsors to programmatic equity capital partners. Furthermore, through LP Ajaz Jafri’s investment, we launched a private debt capital markets desk strategically aligned in a JV with Lynx Mortgage Bank LLC, Commercial Division. Given Lynx only faces conventional lenders, our private debt capital market desk has two groups focused on non-conventional capital. The first group pertains to Special Situations, covering bridge loans, construction loans, & loan sales. The second group pertains to structured finance, covering mezzanine, & senior stretch.