Raanan Katz

An Israeli-born former professional basketball player, Katz transitioned from sports to real estate in the 1970s, initially acquiring apartment complexes in Boston. 

After founding RK Centers in 1980, he built a 100 million-square-foot portfolio, driven by conservative borrowing and hands-on management.

His Sunny Isles Beach-based firm specializes in buying and managing shopping centers and multifamily properties in South Florida and New England. 

Katz has built a reputation for his steady lone wolf approach, often paying all cash for acquisitions, avoiding equity partners and bank financing. 

RK Centers has been active in some of South Florida’s strongest retail corridors, including purchases along Biscayne Boulevard, Kendall Drive and Miami Beach’s Alton Road, where he has publicly opposed oversupply of unregulated short-term rentals. 

Known for being protective of his name and reputation, Katz drew headlines for a yearslong legal battle against a former tenant behind a defunct blog that Katz claimed defamed him.

Katz’s long-term ownership strategy reflects his belief that stable, well-leased suburban shopping centers provide insulation from market cycles. 

He is heavily involved in key leasing decisions and tenant relations, often citing face-to-face communication as a competitive edge. 

Katz is a minority owner of the Miami Heat.

— Francisco Alvarado