Empowering Women in Investment Businesses: How Natay Hayes is Changing the Game

Investing in real estate has long been a lucrative endeavor for those who are able to navigate the ever-changing market. For Natay Hayes, building a business in investing and real estate is not just about making money. The CEO of Diva Keyz, LLC, her focus is on helping women understand the value of investing in real estate and empowering them to take control of their financial futures. As a successful entrepreneur and real estate investor herself, Natay knows firsthand the many obstacles and rewards that come with investing in real estate, from passive income to long-term wealth-building.

Taking her expertise to the next level by creating an e-course teaching others how to achieve the same level of financial success only became an appropriate way to not only give back but also inform. As a professional who is dedicated to making a difference in the lives of others, Natay’s journey is a testament to the fact that the world of investing and real estate is not only financially lucrative but also an incredible way to inspire and help others.

Thank you for taking the time to chat with us. Can you tell our readers a little about yourself?

I was born and raised in the Bronx, NY. I now reside in Newark, NJ. New Jersey has been my home since graduating from Rutgers University, New Brunswick with my B.A., in Labor Studies and Psychology. Proud Scarlett Knight. I’m the oldest of 3 siblings. I love stamping my passport, naps, and sweet potato pie. I’ve been to 47 countries and the number keeps growing.

I am a full-time real estate agent and investor. Aspiring developer and syndicator. I say aspiring because I’m literally in the middle of working on my first ground-up construction deal and purchasing my first apartment building complex by way of syndication. I’ve built a 7-figure real estate portfolio from a $40,000/year job. I’ve been investing in real estate since 2012.

You have an e-course. What steps did you take to ensure the time you put in would yield success?

So, I have an e-course and it definitely took a lot of time and dedication. It took me almost 3 years to get my e-course up and running. I was so busy focused on buying and selling homes that creating the course easily fell by the wayside. The course was written by me first. Then I read everything I wrote out on a teleprompter. It’s about 12 modules full of information on real estate. It took a few months to write out all the modules. Then it took 12 hours to create the videos for the course. I ended up having to record the videos twice. Needless to say, it was a lot! But it’s done and created and selling, so it’s exciting to see that my commitment and dedication paid off. My goal was to just focus. Create the product one time and sell it over and over again. Goes back to all the strategies from the book “Rich Dad, Poor Dad”. Creating money vs. working for it. I always keep that in mind. With everything that I do.

You founded Diva Keyz, LLC, which represents women and investing. Did you have any challenges when first launching your business?

Totally! Capital is always an issue. Time was an issue. At one point I was at work taking 20-minute breaks trying to save my client’s home deals. Those might have been the two biggest issues when I first started. As an investor who started investing from my $ 40,000-a-year job. I had to find ways to save money every which way I could. I ended up renting a room that I found off Craigslist. I was able to save almost $800/month. Buying multiple properties on my salary alone just wasn’t possible. I was living check to check like most people do.

How did you overcome them to become as successful as you are?

As I started growing my real estate investment portfolio, I was able to save more money to buy more homes. Then I became a trusted expert among my friends and family. Now, they wanted to partner with me to do deals. So that’s how I started overcoming a lot of my obstacles. My job ultimately fired me, but by grace, it was my last corporate job. I no longer had to take phone calls on my lunch break. Between my real estate income and commission checks, I was doing my first 6 figures. Business is not much different from life. Every day we get an opportunity to stay defined by our circumstances or create new ones. I always tell people, it’s okay to be strategic and slow at a time. I wasn’t in a rush. I was simply dedicated and structured enough to do one thing well and repeat it.

A lot can happen in a year. What do you hope to accomplish with your business by this time next year?

My financial goal is $10M in assets next year. So that’s only 2 $5M buildings. An achievable stretch goal for me. One is fine but two would be major. I have a head start on those goals as I’ve been dedicating a lot of my time this year to be able to purchase a building or two next year. Those are the only two goals I’m deciding to focus on next year. Then I think that’s the space I’ll stay in. The next decade of my career will focus on beginning to retire. Between my development projects and apartment complexes. I think it’s perfect.

What else would you like the readers to know about you?

I teach newbie investors how to purchase their first multi-family and begin to build wealth. I even speak about my first two investment properties in that course. Even if you have one property and looking to get your second, I talk about ways you can finance your next few deals. If anyone is looking to passively invest in real estate, I’m always looking to raise capital to support my current and future development projects or syndication deals.

Where can the readers connect with you or contact you?

I can be found on both Instagram & FB @natayhayes. If anyone is looking to step into the space as a first-time home buyer, my e-course and mentorship are at www.natayhayes.com.