Today, we’d like to introduce you to Apurva Shah.
Hi Apurva, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I’m Apurva Shah! I’m a Co-Founder and Managing Partner at JAYS Investments, LLC. We’re a private equity real estate investment firm based out of Raleigh, NC.
My journey in real estate started at a very young age. I was born and raised in New York. My dad, who is also my role model, shared a lot of his experiences with me, from engineering to building and developing office/commercial real estate. Growing up, he’d take me around and show me the different projects he’d be working on, and I saw that real estate has a way of changing the entire outlook of a community.
After graduating college, I moved down to Raleigh, NC, to work in corporate as a Product Manager/Engineer. I wanted to continue to fuel my passion for real estate, so not having any money as a post-college kid, I started to leverage my corporate career in engineering to fuel the capital needed to start flipping single-family houses and wholesaling homes.
This built up a capital stack for me, which also allowed me to start doing single-family rentals. This is where I met my now business partner, Jack Yen. We both were destined to do larger deals and build a much larger business where we could impact those around us, so we sold our entire single-family portfolio and went into investing in affordable housing.
We now invest in mobile home parks, multi-family apartment buildings, self-storage, and commercial real estate. Our goal is to build a community in every property that we invest in and add value as we continue to build our real estate empire. The goal of JAYS Investments, LLC is to drive significant investment yields for our investors and to give back by allocating resources to the communities we invest in.
Today, JAYS Investments, LLC manages and owns over $55MM in real estate and continues to grow within the Southeast.
Let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what challenges have you had to overcome?
The road to building a real estate firm has certainly not been smooth. Like many entrepreneurs, I faced numerous challenges and obstacles along the way. Here are a few key struggles I encountered:
Capital Raising: One of the earliest and most significant challenges was raising capital. Convincing investors to trust in my vision and capability, especially when starting out with limited experience and track record, required persistence and resilience.
Market Fluctuations: The real estate market is inherently volatile, and navigating through economic downturns and market shifts tested my strategic planning and risk management skills. Adapting to changes and making prudent investment decisions during uncertain times was crucial.
Operational Challenges: Managing a growing portfolio of properties came with its own operational hurdles. Ensuring efficient property management, handling tenant issues, and maintaining high occupancy rates required meticulous attention to detail and robust systems.
Building a Reliable Team: As the firm grew, building a strong, reliable team with my business partner, Jack, became essential. Finding and retaining talented individuals who shared the company’s vision and values was a challenging yet crucial part of our growth.
Despite these challenges, each struggle taught valuable lessons and contributed to our firm’s growth and success. The journey has been demanding but incredibly rewarding, reinforcing the importance of resilience, adaptability, and a clear vision in achieving long-term success in the private equity real estate sector.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next, you can tell us a bit more about your business.
Our firm, JAYS Investments, is a real estate investment company dedicated to transforming the landscape of affordable housing and diversifying investment opportunities for our clients. Our core mission is to provide superior returns while making a positive impact on the communities we serve.
Affordable Housing: We are committed to addressing the affordable housing crisis by developing and managing quality housing options that are accessible to lower-income families.
Car Washes and Apartments: We also invest in and manage car wash facilities and multi-family apartment complexes, ensuring they operate efficiently and profitably.
Mission-Driven Investment: Our primary focus on affordable housing sets us apart. We believe in creating value not just for our investors but also for the communities we serve. This dual focus on financial returns and social impact drives our investment strategy.
Track Record of Success: Since our inception, we have successfully grown our assets under management to over $55 million within just five years. This rapid growth is a testament to our strategic vision and operational excellence.
Hands-On Management: We take a hands-on approach to property management, ensuring that each asset is optimized for performance and resident satisfaction. This attention to detail enhances the value and stability of our investments.
Diverse Investment Opportunities: By offering a mix of asset types, from affordable housing to car washes and apartments, we provide our investors with diverse opportunities to grow and protect their capital.
When discussing our firm, we want readers and everyone to know that we pride ourselves on an investor-centric approach. Our investors are at the heart of everything we do. We strive to offer personalized investment strategies that align with their financial goals and risk tolerance.
This also comes with being transparent across all the financials and sharing where we are excelling and where there’s room for improvement for all of us. Another focus is community. We believe in creating vibrant, sustainable communities. Our investments in affordable housing are aimed at improving living conditions and providing stability for families, especially those who may be struggling.
In summary, JAYS Investments is more than just a real estate investment firm. We are a mission-driven organization dedicated to making a difference in the world of affordable housing while delivering exceptional returns to our investors. We invite you to join us on this journey of growth, impact, and success.
Do you have recommendations for books, apps, blogs, etc?
Absolutely! Some of the resources that have been instrumental in helping me excel both professionally and personally started with BiggerPockets.com – there’s a podcast and blog that really helped transform and teach me the daily principles in real estate.
I still use it from a community standpoint to ask questions and reach out to others who are aspiring real estate investors. “What it Takes: Lessons in the Pursuit of Excellence” by Stephen Schwarzman is an incredible book that provides an inside look at the life and career of Blackstone’s co-founder, offering lessons on leadership, entrepreneurship, and building a successful business.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.jaysinvestments.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/apurva.shah92/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/apurva.shah.9279
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/apurva-shah-15794271/
