Moinian Group’s Finkelstein heads HFZ’s national venture

Ziel Feldman’s Manhattan-based HFZ Capital Group is setting its sights beyond Manhattan island, as it has tapped Jacqueline Finkelstein to head a team focused on purchasing performing, non-performing notes and fee positions across the country. Finkelstein had previously worked for the Moinian Group, but left the firm (she declined to discuss her departure) to pursue some real estate opportunities of her own. Now that most of them have wrapped up, she said she is focused solely on her new role with HFZ Capital, which she started about two months ago. “I just feel HFZ permits me to have access to deals I haven’t been able to access in the past,” she told The Real Deal. “Ziel [Feldman] is a highly active developer and has the ability to get into these distressed properties and get tremendous value.” Finkelstein cited Feldman’s law background as a crucial component to his success. While the developer has been very active in Manhattan of late — including recent acquisitions of a 250,000-square-foot development site at 51st Street and Second Avenue, the Setai Downtown, and being on the verge of acquiring One Madison Park — it’s already begun activity in other markets. Finkelstein said HFZ is focusing on multi-family properties in strong growth markets in Boston and Washington D.C and Texas. “The multi-family market is pretty heated.” she said, “There’s strong rental growth throughout the country.” She said the firm has submitted bids on distressed properties in Austin, Texas and Washington, D.C., and that Texas would be a particular focus given the opportunities for value-add investments. TRD