The Jacksonville-based Finlay Management has a new president on board and he says his business philosophy is simple: “This isn’t rocket science.”
Jeff Goldshine, a 37-year veteran of the property management business, says the growth potential for Finlay is there.
“The team is in place,” he said, “and that’s what matters. It’s a simple business as long as you keep one thing in mind: as a property manager, you work for the owner.
“If you think like an owner, you’ll do well. If you’re just there to take care of things and get paid, you won’t make it.
“Chris and his team share that philosophy.”
Chris is Christopher C. Finlay, who started the company in 1967 when his new father-in-law suggested he invest in real estate. Finlay was a commercial airline pilot and left the skies for the land.
The first purchase was an avocado grove and things grew from there. Finlay started a commercial real estate brokerage firm in 1980 and grew rapidly, and was selected by the FDIC to handle a large portfolio of troubled properties taken over after the slump of 1988-92.
When the economy recovered, the properties were sold. Finlay moved into development and has some 40 communities and 5,000 units, mostly in Florida, Texas and New Hampshire.
The headquarters moved to Jacksonville in 1998 and is based in Southpoint.
There are three major properties in this area, a 160-unit apartment complex on the Southside, a senior residence on the westside and a 184-unit apartment complex, also on the westside.
Goldshine most recently was president of Mission Residential Management in Oakton, Va., and will continue to split time between the Washington area and here.
“It’s an hour and a half flight from one good airport to another,” he said. “I imagine I’ll eventually move down.”
— Fred Seely