UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT

                     Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
                         Securities Exchange Act of 1934

       Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported) September 30, 2004

                           ---------------------------

                            Arbor Realty Trust, Inc.
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             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

    Maryland                       001-32136                    20-0057959
 ---------------                  -----------               -------------------
 (State or other                  (Commission                  (IRS Employer
 jurisdiction of                 File Number)               Identification No.)
 incorporation)

        333 Earle Ovington Boulevard, Suite 900 Uniondale, New York 11553
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               (Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)

                                 (516) 832-8002
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              (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to
simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the
following provisions:

|_|   Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17
      CFR 230.425)

|_|   Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR
      240.14a-12)

|_|   Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the
      Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

|_|   Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the
      Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Arbor Realty Trust, Inc. Current Report on Form 8-K Item 8.01 Other Events. On September 30, 2004, Arbor Realty Trust, Inc. (the "Company") issued a press release announcing that its Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.43 per share of common stock for the quarter ended September 30, 2004 which is payable on October 29, 2004 to common shareholders of record on October 15, 2004. A copy of the press release relating to the announcement is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1. Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits. (c) Exhibits Exhibit Number -------------- 99.1 Press Release, dated September 30, 2004.

SIGNATURE Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized. Dated: September 30, 2004 ARBOR REALTY TRUST, INC. By: /s/ Frederick C. Herbst ------------------------------ Name: Frederick C. Herbst Title: Chief Financial Officer

EXHIBIT INDEX Exhibit Number - -------------- 99.1 Press Release, dated September 30, 2004.

                                                                    Exhibit 99.1

           Arbor Realty Trust Declares Third Quarter 2004 Dividend

    UNIONDALE, N.Y., Sept. 30 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Arbor Realty Trust,
Inc. (NYSE: ABR), a real estate investment trust focused on the business of
investing in real estate related bridge and mezzanine loans, preferred equity
investments, mortgage-related securities and other real estate related assets,
announced today that its Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend
of $0.43 per share of common stock for the quarter ended September 30, 2004.
The dividend is payable on October 29, 2004 to common shareholders of record
on October 15, 2004.
    Ivan Kaufman, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, commented, "Arbor's
Board of Directors is committed to providing exceptional value to our
shareholders. This quarterly cash dividend represents a 22.9% increase over
last quarter's dividend and is indicative of the strength of the portfolio.
Our pipeline remains strong and we continue to see ample opportunity to
further grow the loan portfolio."

    About Arbor Realty Trust, Inc.
    Arbor Realty Trust, Inc. is a real estate investment trust, which invests
in a diversified portfolio of multi-family and commercial real estate related
bridge and mezzanine loans, preferred equity investments, mortgage related
securities and other real estate related assets. Arbor commenced operations in
July 2003 and conducts substantially all of its operations through its
operating partnership, Arbor Realty Limited Partnership. Arbor is externally
managed and advised by Arbor Commercial Mortgage, LLC, a national commercial
real estate finance company operating through 15 offices in the US that
specializes in debt and equity financing for multi-family and commercial real
estate.

    Safe Harbor Statement
    Certain items in this press release may constitute forward-looking
statements within the meaning of the "safe harbor" provisions of the Private
Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  These statements are based on
management's current expectations and beliefs and are subject to a number of
trends and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially
from those described in the forward-looking statements.  Arbor can give no
assurance that its expectations will be attained.  Factors that could cause
actual results to differ materially from Arbor's expectations include, but are
not limited to, continued ability to source new investments, changes in
interest rates and/or credit spreads, changes in the real estate markets, and
other risks detailed from time to time in the Arbor's periodic and other
reports filed with the SEC.  Such forward-looking statements speak only as of
the date of this press release.  Arbor expressly disclaims any obligation or
undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-
looking statements contained herein to reflect any change in Arbor's
expectations with regard thereto or change in events, conditions, or
circumstances on which any such statement is based.

     Contacts:
     Arbor Realty Trust, Inc.
     Rick Herbst, Chief Financial Officer
     516-832-7408
     rick.herbst@thearbornet.com

     Investors:
     Stephanie Carrington/ Denise Roche
     The Ruth Group
     646-536-7017 / 7008
     scarrington@theruthgroup.com
     droche@theruthgroup.com

     Media:
     Bonnie Habyan, VP of Marketing
     516-229-6615
     bonnie.habyan@thearbornet.com

SOURCE  Arbor Realty Trust, Inc.
    -0-                             09/30/2004
    /CONTACT: Rick Herbst, Chief Financial Officer of Arbor Realty Trust,
Inc., +1-516-832-7408, or rick.herbst@thearbornet.com; or Stephanie
Carrington, +1-646-536-7017, or scarrington@theruthgroup.com, or Denise Roche,
+1-646-536-7008, or droche@theruthgroup.com, both of The Ruth Group for Arbor
Realty Trust, Inc.; or Media, Bonnie Habyan, VP of Marketing,
+1-516-229-6615, or bonnie.habyan@thearbornet.com, for Arbor Realty Trust,
Inc./
    (ABR)

CO:  Arbor Realty Trust, Inc.; Arbor Commercial Mortgage, LLC
ST:  New Jersey, New York
IN:  FIN RLT
SU:  DIV