Meet Apurva Shah

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Apurva Shah. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Apurva, thanks for taking the time to share your thoughts with us today. We’re excited to dive into your story and your work, but first let’s start with a broader topic that might be stopping many of our readers from pursuing their dreams – haters, nay-sayers, etc. How have you managed to persist despite haters and nay-sayers that inevitably follow folks who are doing something unique, special or off the beaten path?

Persistence in the face of doubt, criticism, and negativity comes down to having a clear vision and unshakable belief in what I’m building. When I left corporate and started my real estate journey, I knew there would be skeptics, people who didn’t understand the path I was taking or who doubted whether I could succeed. But I also knew that if I focused on proving them wrong, I’d be wasting valuable energy. Instead, I focused on proving myself right.

I’ve learned that most naysayers project their own fears and limitations onto others. The key is to surround yourself with people who think bigger, push you forward, and remind you why you started. For me, that has meant aligning with like-minded investors, business partners, and mentors who challenge and elevate my thinking.

Ultimately, success is the best response to doubt. I channel negativity into fuel, using it as motivation to go further, think smarter, and execute at a higher level. Every time I hit a milestone, whether it was flipping my first house, scaling to multifamily, or growing a portfolio north of $50MM, it reinforced that I was on the right path. The more I focus on execution, the quieter the noise becomes.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?

I’m Apurva Shah, the Managing Partner and Co-Founder of JAYS Investments, LLC, a real estate investment firm focused on affordable housing. My journey into real estate started with flipping houses and wholesaling, but it quickly evolved into something bigger—building a business that not only generates strong returns for investors but also provides quality housing options for working-class families.

What excites me most about what we do is the impact. Affordable housing is a critical need, and we’ve built a portfolio that includes mobile home parks, car washes, and apartment communities, ensuring that we’re providing solutions in areas where they’re needed most. Many real estate investors focus purely on luxury or high-margin properties, but we’ve carved out a niche that balances profitability with social impact. We help investors diversify their capital into alternative assets while capturing returns that outperform traditional markets.

Recently, we closed on a portfolio of mobile home parks in Sanford, NC, and Reidsville, NC—expanding our footprint in the affordable housing space. Looking ahead, we have several deals in the pipeline set to close in Q1 2025 in Stoneville, NC, a new market for us. We’re excited about the opportunities this expansion presents, both in terms of growing our portfolio and continuing our mission of providing high-quality, affordable housing.

At its core, JAYS Investments is about financial freedom—both for our team and for the people we work with. My transition from corporate to entrepreneurship was driven by a desire for more control over my time, and now I’m helping others achieve that same goal. Whether it’s investors looking to diversify, residents looking for a stable home, or entrepreneurs looking to build something of their own, I want to show that financial independence is achievable with the right mindset and strategy.

We’re constantly looking for opportunities to grow and improve our communities while delivering value to our investors. As we expand into new markets, our focus remains on operational excellence and making a meaningful impact in the affordable housing space.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

Looking back, three qualities have been the most impactful in my journey: resilience, strategic thinking, and relationship-building.

Resilience – Real estate and entrepreneurship are full of challenges—deals fall through, markets shift, and setbacks happen. Early on, I learned that success isn’t about avoiding failure; it’s about how quickly you recover. When I took a pay cut in corporate and made the leap into real estate, there were moments of doubt and uncertainty. But I stayed focused, adapted, and kept pushing forward. My advice: Build a mindset that views setbacks as learning experiences. Read books on mental toughness, surround yourself with people who have been through the fire, and keep moving even when things don’t go as planned.

Strategic Thinking – In business, it’s not just about working hard—it’s about working smart. I started by flipping houses and wholesaling to build my capital stack before transitioning into larger assets. Every move I made was intentional, positioning myself for the next step. My advice: Study your industry deeply. Understand the economics behind what you’re doing. Think long-term and ask yourself, “How does this step get me closer to my ultimate goal?”

Relationship-Building – Real estate is a people business. Investors, business partners, lenders, brokers, and operators all play a role in success. The deals we’re closing now in Stoneville, NC, wouldn’t be possible without the right relationships. My advice: Build genuine relationships by providing value first. Go to industry events, connect with mentors, and always follow up. Your network will open doors that skills alone cannot.

For those early in their journey, focus on learning, taking action, and surrounding yourself with the right people. Get hands-on experience, whether through a side hustle, investing in small deals, or working with mentors. The earlier you start developing these skills, the faster you’ll see results.

What would you advise – going all in on your strengths or investing on areas where you aren’t as strong to be more well-rounded?

I believe in going all in on your strengths—but with the caveat that you need a solid foundation to grow from. Too many people waste time trying to be good at everything instead of exceptional at what truly sets them apart. That being said, foundational skills are necessary; without them, you won’t have the base to grow from.

When I transitioned into real estate, I knew my strengths were in operations and execution—getting deals done, managing teams, and making sure things moved forward. But I also needed a foundational understanding of finance, deal structuring, and market analysis to be effective. That’s where my business partner, Jack, comes in—he’s incredibly strong in modeling and analytics, which allows us to make data-driven decisions and structure deals in a way that maximizes returns. Our complementary skill sets have been a huge factor in our ability to scale.

This is why I don’t believe in trying to be a jack-of-all-trades. When you spread yourself too thin across too many areas, you dilute your focus and slow your growth. If I had tried to master everything—underwriting, investor relations, capital markets, operations—I would’ve taken longer to scale, and I wouldn’t be as effective at what I do best. Instead, I focused on my strengths and surrounded myself with the right people to fill in the gaps.

My advice: Get good enough at the fundamentals to understand the big picture, but then lean into what you do best. Build a team, find partners, or delegate the areas where you’re weaker so you can maximize your impact. Success comes from specialization and collaboration, not from trying to do everything yourself.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.jaysinvestments.com
• Linkedin: https://linkedin.com/in/apurva-shah-15794271