By: KeyCrew Media
Plenty of founders talk about staying close to the work. Yuval Shram, Founder and CEO of TAY Investments, has built an entire operating model around it, and he makes a compelling case that in multifamily development, hands-on leadership is itself a source of value.
One Thing, Done Exceptionally Well
Shram’s description of what TAY does is focused by design. “This is what we do, and this is who we are,” he says. “It is the only thing we do, and because of that we take pride in doing it the best way, the right way, and the honest way. We eat it, we live it, we sleep it, and we wake up for it.”
That focus shapes how the firm presents itself. TAY concentrates its development work on New Jersey multifamily, building deep expertise from doing one thing consistently well.
Small By Design
TAY is a vertically integrated firm, and Shram treats its close-knit size as a genuine advantage. “We are a close team. We know one another well, and we work together every day,” he says. Information moves easily between the people who design a building and the people who lease and manage it for the long term.
It also aligns everyone’s incentives. “When you own the full life cycle, you understand everything,” he says. “You make decisions knowing you will own the building for years, so you build it right.” The people making the early calls are the same ones who benefit from getting them right.
Bringing The Operating Team In Early
The clearest expression of that culture is how early TAY’s leasing and management teams join the process, well before construction begins.
“Our leasing agent will look at the plans and tell us how to make them better,” Shram says. “She might say a layout needs more walk-in closet space, because that is something residents really value, so we build it in.” He points to electric-vehicle charging as another feature added early because the team knew residents would want it. “Those small touches are what create the value of a building. Everyone knows a unit needs a kitchen and a bathroom. It is the thoughtful details that make it exceptional.”
A Consistent Standard Everywhere
As TAY has grown from sub-markets like East Orange and Newark onto the larger stage of Jersey City, Shram has held to a single, consistent product standard.
“If I took you into any one of our buildings and put you inside a unit, you would recognize it instantly as ours,” he says. “We build our product to the same high standard everywhere.” That consistency is set from the top. Shram says he and his team spend time in their own buildings, use the amenities, and talk with residents, treating the lived experience of the product as part of the job.
Building For The Long Term
Shram’s ambition is confident and patient at once. He speaks about timing as a craft, arriving in a growing neighborhood at just the right moment, and about growth as something that should happen steadily and well rather than for its own sake.
Asked to summarize where the firm is headed, Shram answers with a statement of intent. “We are building this company forever,” he says. “We are here to stay.”
About TAY Investments: TAY Investments is a vertically integrated real estate development company headquartered in Hackensack, New Jersey, specializing in multifamily properties across the state. With in-house capabilities spanning development, general contracting, property management, and asset management, the company maintains a long-term holding strategy focused on creating exceptional residential communities in strategic locations throughout New Jersey. TAY Investments was founded by Yuval Shram, who serves as CEO.
