Today we’d like to introduce you to Amani Kelly.
Hi Amani, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I’m originally from the Boston area and moved to Nashville in 2017. I worked for a mid-sized technology research firm while flipping houses on the side. I decided to leave the corporate world in 2019 to become a full-time entrepreneur. I flipped a few more houses in 2020 and decided to start building new construction as a developer.
I eventually started my company Southeast Investment Capital Group, invested in land, and built my first property in Nashville. As the company started growing, I knew I had to add partners to sustain the growth, and now I have 2 partners with whom we are working on several new construction projects.
We also focus on REOs and cash-flowing real estate and will soon release our first investment fund in 2024.
We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It has not been the smoothest road thus far, as there have been several start and stops. I have learned a lot about development and business during this time. As an employee and business major, you are not leveraging all of your learned business skills to practice because you have corporate protection, but as an entrepreneur, you are using skills that you have and skills you didn’t know you had.
I have been a several bad deals that would have set me back significantly, but I was able to work through them. One example is signing a land deal that did not have “Force Majuer”, exactly – what is that? But essentially it would protect me from any major natural disasters out of my control…..COVID.
Unfortunately, I did not have that clause in my contract and I was forced to execute my side of the agreement. This was a setback, but I was able to get through it, and I also learned a lot about contracts.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Southeast Investment Capital Group is a real estate development firm that focuses on new construction, REOs, distressed mortgages, and capital raising. We specialize in infill projects located in the middle Tennessee region and providing an affordable, beautiful product.
We connect with the local neighborhood to determine what they would like to see in their community. I am most proud of my project “The Naima Luxury Residences @ Sharondale” as it is named after my mother.
I would like for readers to know that we are a start-up development firm and are here to change the narrative on development firms from a mature, innovative, and professional standpoint.
Can you talk to us about how you think about risk?
I am a calculated risk taker and my motto is “scared money, don’t make money”. I have always bet on myself and will continue because the “house always wins”. However, I do not just throw caution in the wind, I look at the risks associated, the worst-case and best-case scenarios, and determine that if I lost this investment, would it cripple me or my family.
I have made several mistakes as a risk-taker, and I am sure I will make more. I did lose on an investment I made with a former partner on a project in Portland, ME. I can only blame myself as I trusted the partner on the numbers because of our relationship, and track record, however, this was a losing investment and I lost six figures. Not my best day, but I will just make more…
Contact Info:
- Website: www.seinvcap.com
- Instagram: @amanimkelly
- Other: www.amanikelly.com
Image Credits
Amani Kelly
