Item 8.01 Other Events.

On January 7, 2013, each of Venable LLP and Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP delivered an opinion to Arbor Realty Trust, Inc. (the "Company") in connection with the Company's sale to or through JMP Securities LLC (the "Sales Agent"), from time to time, in an at-the-market equity offering program of up to 6,000,000 shares of the Company's common stock, par value $0.01 per share, pursuant to the Equity Distribution Agreement dated December 31, 2012 among the Sales Agent, the Company and Arbor Realty Limited Partnership, for which the Company previously filed a prospectus supplement dated December 31, 2012.

The Company is filing as Exhibit 5.1 the opinion of Venable LLP and as Exhibit 8.1 the opinion of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP.

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d) Exhibits Exhibit Number Exhibit 5.1 Opinion of Venable LLP 8.1 Opinion of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP 23.1 Consent of Venable LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1) 23.2 Consent of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP (included in Exhibit 8.1)

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