Meet Doris Logan | Real Estate Investor

We had the good fortune of connecting with Doris Logan and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Doris, we’d love for you to start things off by telling us something about your industry that we and others not in the industry might be unaware of?
There are several obstacles about my industry that most are probably unaware of but the two major obstacles are that most developers and/or home flippers in the United states are small businesses. Yes, there are the major players in this industry, but they only make about less than 33% of the new homes that come on to the market. Which means that most of the homes that people are currently purchasing on the Atlanta market is stemming from local small businesses. These local flippers and developers are fighting to build teams, employ locals in the community, and source inexpensive quality products. You can imagine the stress entailed with running a full operation of building or rebuilding a property from scratch. Secondly, being a woman is not easy in this business. There is the constant doubt of knowing exactly what you’re doing along with people approaching my business partner rather than myself for advice and knowledge because he’s a man. He’s trusted more, although I sign the checks. It’s funny sometimes. In this day and age there is still a fight for equality and recognition. I’m not sure why people take women for granted. As though we haven’t proven our abilities thus far.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
My name is Doris I. Logan and I am a real estate investor in the Atlanta area. I have been in business for about seven years.

1. What do you want your legacy to be? What do you want people to remember about you?

a. I would like my legacy to state “One of the best black female developers of her time.” I would like for my grandchildren to look around Atlanta, and see what their grandmother has built and left behind. I would like people to remember how strong but kind I was and all that I was able to accomplish while on this earth. And most importantly to never be forgotten. I aspire to be in textbooks.

2. What was your thought process behind starting your own business?

a. My thought process behind starting my own business was not necessarily the business as much as it was the enjoyment. I knew generational wealth was of importance to me, but I also enjoy what I do. I have always been a handy woman. And I enjoy building things and taking things apart. I love puzzles and coming across a property that’s been abandoned for months, sometimes years is probably one of the biggest puzzles I have ever come across. Sometimes rebuilding a neighborhood from one property starts a ricochet event in a community. I enjoy looking at plans, evaluating the foundation, and gauging what it takes to bring this small part of Atlanta back to life.

3. Risk Taking: what do you think about risk? What role has taking risks played in your life/career?

a. I’m a pretty risk averse person. I’m originally from Los Angeles, California and moving here was a large risk. I had no direction or know how but I knew what I wanted to do. And it was very important for me to follow my gut by any means necessary. And I’m so happy I did. I think I truly would have been miserable if I didn’t risk moving to Atlanta. Till this day there are still several risks that go into my day-to-day operations. And the older I become, the more comfortable I am. I think risk is necessary in personal & professional growth. I honestly wish I would have been riskier in my younger age. There are some things that you just can’t read about, you must jump. Have faith, have a strong sense of self, and believe you are making the best decision for yourself and hopefully not hurting others around you.

4. Other than deciding to work for yourself, what was the single most important decision you made that contributed to your success?

a. The single best decision I made for myself is definitely moving to Atlanta. Although; I moved out here when I was 25, I became a woman in Atlanta and gained a certain level of independence and a certain sense of pride. I have not always made the best decision but the good one’s I did truly paid off. In Atlanta, I became a homeowner turned investor turned flipper. But most importantly I became a woman, with a great sense of personal reflection on how I want my life to look. I don’t think I could have found myself living and surrounded by things I was “used to”. I would have been too comfortable to change and grow.

5. What is the most important factor behind your success/ the success of your brand?

a. The most important factor behind my success is tenacity, community, and confidence. There’s a movie by the name of “The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3” where the main character (John Travolta) states that “Plan B is to enforce Plan A” and I couldn’t agree more. That line is meant to be comical, but I have always lived with that principle. Yes, the road to the destination may need to be altered from time to time but the destination never changes. Secondly, my community, I wouldn’t be where I am today without my brother, Simmon Logan, he is my business partner, friend, sibling and so much more. He keeps me grounded in my decisions. He’s truly my best support system throughout this whole process. Thirdly, you have to have confidence in yourself, your business, and what both stand for. You must not waver in defeat. And you must bounce back as if nothing ever happened. Sometimes the ideas are crazy, but God placed that idea in your heart, so run with it. Every memorable person was considered crazy at one point or another. So, keep confident in your decisions and push forward.

6. What’s the most difficult decision you’ve ever had to make?

a. The most difficult decision I had to make came almost every day honestly. There are great sacrifices that come with running a business. Sometimes I make sacrifices with my personal time. Choosing to work then to join friends for some drinks or sometimes there’s financial constraints. Paying vendors/subcontractors before paying myself sometimes, because you know they are a small business as well. The sacrifices are endless, but the payoffs are amazingly rewarding. And I wouldn’t change it for the world.

7. Work life balance: how has your balance changed over time? How do you think about the balance?

a. From the time I started till now my work life balance has consistently changed over time. Some months and years I work like crazy with no vacation and no social life. Some years I get two vacations in. I am becoming more comfortable with owning and operating a business, which has increased more of balance for myself and the people I work with. When I first started I felt like I had to work all the time and watch over my crew but as time progresses, and I work with better crews, a relationship is built there in which reliability and respect is formed. Which allows me to go off and do more of the administrative work and focus on new contracts and properties to renovate. Also, I’ve realized that a work life balance is important for my overall wellbeing. So, I do take out time for myself now and make sure I spend a bit more time with family and friends.

8. Do you have a favorite quote or affirmation? What does it mean to you/what do you like about it?

a. I have a couple of quotes and affirmations that are personal favorites of mine. The first quote is by John Lennon “Everything will be okay in the end. If it’s not okay, it’s not the end” This quote resonates with me because it is absolutely true in my eyes. I have been in pretty stressful situations where everything that could have gone wrong, went wrong. But I’m still here. I still have joy. I’m still making a way out of no way. And sometimes when you’re in the thick of it you don’t see a way to the finish line, but that quote reminds me to keep going. The second is by Augustina “Never give up on what you truly want to do. The person with big dreams is more powerful than the one with all the facts”. This quote is in my professional email signature line. And I created that email when I first moved to Georgia, and that’s how I truly felt at that moment. Being new to Atlanta and chasing my ambitions. The quote just resonated with me. Nothing I have done; I knew how to do. But I knew what I wanted to do. So, I just did it and learned along the way. I have learned lessons that no professor could ever teach. And I’ve done things that no one expected me to do. Thirdly, an affirmation I tell myself every day is “Something good is going to happen to me today”. I honestly believe that and it keeps me in a positive state, it reminds me that there is a lot to be grateful for.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Some my favorite local spots is Superica and Apt4B for drinks. For dinner, Pho Dai Loi, Mangoes, Hal’s Steakhouse, and Kabab Land. For entertainment, Cascade skating rink, High Art Museum, Hawk’s game, and the beltline. And for relaxation, Jeju spa.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Simmon Logan

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