The first black female property developer in Purfleet, Essex, is urging more people to invest in property in order to secure financial freedom.
Melissa Lewis, 30, is the founder of ML Property Venture and is the first black female property sourcing and management business in the Purfleet area.
I had imposter syndrome and questioned my ability to make it in the industry in my mid-20s
Ms Lewis bought her first property when she was 26 and says she would like to see more black people enter the property sector.
Speaking to The Voice, she said: “When I first got into property I would go to networking events and I was shocked that there were no black people and not that many females, and I remember feeling a little bit put off and scared at first.
“I had imposter syndrome and questioned my ability to make it in the industry in my mid-20s.
“When I was started out there was no one else that looked like me in the room.”
Ms Lewis revealed to The Voice, things are beginning to change and more black people are entering the real estate industry.
“I am meeting more black females who are getting into property or who have been in the industry for a long time but I just wasn’t aware of them and it is really good to see, I would definitely encourage more people from the black community to invest in property if they are able to,” she added.
The 30-year-old completely changed her career after working full time in HR and studying the subject at Greenwich University and believes if she can do it, so can anyone else.
“It is possible to pivot or change careers and be successful,” she added.
Ms Lewis’ company specialises in sourcing properties and developments for their investors and offers different property services, such as viewings, inventories and inspections.
For the last three years, she has worked tirelessly building her organisation and currently has between 50-60 investors and provides management services for approximately 50 properties in Essex.
Her thriving business has also made her a finalist in Essex Countrywide Business Awards show 2021, where Ms Lewis is nominated in the Business Person of the Year category.
The entrepreneur grew up in Wanstead, east London and is of St Lucian heritage and says seeing her parents work hard and maintain successful careers in the human resources and legal sector inspired her.
She said: “My parents are strong advocates of finding a sustainable career and they were keen for me to do well in education.
“They worked hard and have done really well for themselves and that definitely played a part in how I view my own career and attitude to work.”
The property expert told The Voice, the journey getting on the property ladder was “very stressful” and said conducting her own research and finding a good mortgage broker made a huge difference.
She said: “The first step to get on the ladder is saving, try and save regularly and keep up to date with areas that are affordable to you and find a good mortgage broker to advise you on how much you will need for a deposit and what is possible.”
Ms Lewis has big plans for the new year and wants to increase her company’s own rent-to-homes of multiple occupancy (HMO) portfolio and is keen to help more first-time investors start their buy-to-let property portfolios.
She also is determined to have more of a work-life-balance, after dedicating the last few years of her life to building her business.
She said: “Running a business does take up a lot of time, but I feel like now is the right time for me to start dating again and hopefully find love, I also want to create a networking group for black property experts to meet up and share expertise and opportunities, as that is the only way we as a community can grow and thrive.”
For more information, visit her website: https://www.mlpropertyventure.co.uk/
.
Credit: Source link
