Ep. 021: From Architecture to Apartments: Insights from Diana Lin

Diana Lin, co-founder of Navi Ventures, joins Dustin Miles our latest podcast episode to share her journey from the design world to full-time multifamily investing. With a background in architecture and a global perspective, Diana brings a unique lens to real estate and a passion for building both properties and partnerships.

Diana and her husband began investing in multifamily real estate in 2018, starting as passive investors. By 2021, they shifted into active deal sponsorship and have since acquired three properties, with an ongoing project in New Mexico. Their investment focus spans Texas, Arizona, and New Mexico—markets they believe offer strong long-term potential.

Before real estate, Diana spent over a decade as a licensed architect, working on projects from 70-story towers in China to custom homes in Texas. Her experience in design and project execution now plays a key role in how she approaches multifamily investments—bringing attention to detail, a collaborative mindset, and a deep understanding of how great buildings come to life.

Today, Diana plays a flexible role in her firm, contributing to project management, investor relations, and value-add strategy. Based in Dallas, and originally from Sugar Land, Texas she continues to grow her portfolio with her husband, leveraging both design and business expertise to scale intentionally.

For those looking to connect with Diana or learn more about her work, she’s active on LinkedIn and Instagram and can be reached via her website: www.navi-ventures.com.