We recently had the chance to connect with Apurva Shah and have shared our conversation below.
Apurva, it’s always a pleasure to learn from you and your journey. Let’s start with a bit of a warmup: What do the first 90 minutes of your day look like?
Let me start by saying I’m not one of those 4AM, journal-for-two-hours, meditate-until-sunrise types. Good for those who do all that, but to all the followers, that’s not what’s absolutely needed to run a multi-million dollar company. I keep it simple and focused.
Most mornings, I’m up around 7. I’ll get in a 45-minute workout, usually on the Tonal or Peloton, just enough to get my body moving and my mind sharp, especially since an average day comes with its fair share of stress. Then it’s water, emails, and straight into problem-solving mode.
I use that early window to check key updates across our portfolio, respond to anything urgent from the team or investors, and set the top priorities for the day. For me, mornings are all about momentum. If I can stack a couple wins before the world starts pulling me in a hundred directions, I know I’m ahead.
This routine is important because it creates a sense of control and clarity before the chaos of the day kicks in. In a business where no two days look the same and where a lot of people rely on me to make clear, fast decisions, starting grounded and focused isn’t optional. It’s the difference between reacting all day and leading with intention.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m Apurva Shah, I’m the co-founder and managing partner of JAYS Investments, where we focus on building wealth through alternative real estate assets like mobile home parks, car washes, and workforce housing. We’ve grown from flipping single-family homes to managing a $55M+ portfolio across multiple markets, and we’re just getting started.
What makes us different is that we don’t chase what’s trendy, we invest where we see long-term value and stability, especially in areas often overlooked by traditional investors. Our goal is simple: help our investors earn strong returns while creating real impact in the communities we operate in.
My journey started in the corporate world, but after a major pay cut and a wake-up call about time and freedom, I pivoted hard into real estate. I’ve learned to play to my strengths, execution, operations, and relationship-building—and partnered with people who complement that.
Right now, we’re expanding into new markets, closing on larger deals, and continuing to grow our investor network. But at the heart of it, I’m just someone who believes in betting on yourself, staying scrappy, and building something meaningful, both for yourself and others.
Okay, so here’s a deep one: What was your earliest memory of feeling powerful?
I was around 11 when I started my first real company, Apurva’s Landscaping. I made about $1,500 that summer mowing lawns, pulling weeds, and doing odd jobs around the neighborhood. I even had two of my friends working with me, so technically I had a team!
It was the first time I realized I could take an idea, organize people, and actually generate money from it. I wasn’t relying on anyone else. I created value, delivered results, and earned trust. That feeling of building something from scratch and leading others stuck with me.
Looking back, it was less about the money and more about the confidence it gave me. That was probably my first real taste of entrepreneurship and the beginning of a mindset that’s carried me all the way through to what I’m building today.
Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
Definitely. The moment that really hit me was when I lost $150,000 investing in two deals, before I ever went full-time into real estate. I was still working in corporate, grinding through long hours, and I put my hard-earned money into other people’s projects, trusting that they’d deliver. They didn’t.
The deals fell apart, and just like that, six figures were gone. It crushed me, not just financially, but mentally. I felt completely powerless because they weren’t my deals. I wasn’t in control, and I didn’t have the visibility or the say I thought I would. For a while, I seriously questioned if I even belonged in the investment space.
But eventually, I stopped sulking and got serious. I realized that if I was going to stay in this game, I had to take ownership, not just of the wins, but the risk. That loss is a big reason why today I’m extremely selective about who I partner with, and why I focus so heavily on operations and execution in every deal I lead.
It also shaped how we treat our investors, we’re radically transparent, we communicate often, and we never leave people in the dark. Because I’ve been on the other side of that, and I never want anyone who works with us to feel that way.
Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? What are the biggest lies your industry tells itself?
One of the biggest lies in real estate is that it’s a quick, easy, passive way to get rich. You know the stories “Buy a property, sit back on a beach, and watch the money roll in.” If that sounds like the pitch, you probably don’t want to invest with those “gurus.”
Here’s the reality: passive for investors doesn’t mean passive for the team. When you invest with us, yes, it’s passive for you, we handle the heavy lifting, but behind the scenes, my team is hustling nonstop. We’re working the deals, managing tenants, handling maintenance, and optimizing operations 24/7.
Another myth is that location alone guarantees success. Spoiler alert: it doesn’t. Without strong operations and trustworthy partners, even the “hottest” markets can turn cold real quick.
And finally, bigger isn’t always better. Sometimes, chasing giant deals just means more headaches and less focus. At JAYS Investments, we focus on smart, disciplined growth, doing the hard work others don’t want to do so our investors don’t have to.
Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
I hope people remember me as someone who showed up with integrity, grit, and heart, not just to build a business, but to build community. Someone who cared about more than just the bottom line, who lifted others up, and stayed true to his word no matter the pressure.
On the family side, I hope they say I was a great husband to my amazing wife Kruti, who probably deserves a medal for putting up with my work obsession and endless real estate stories! If they mention that I somehow managed to balance building a business and making her laugh, I’ll take that as a win.
At the end of the day, I want the story to be about someone who faced challenges head-on, didn’t take shortcuts, and inspired others to believe in themselves and their potential. And maybe someone who could also tell a joke or two along the way, though my family/friends might say I’m “mildly” funny!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.jaysinvestments.com
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/apurva-shah-15794271/
