Yamuna Navada
My Work
About
Resume
REIMentor
From Overwhelmed to Empowered: Helping new real estate investors find trusted mentors — and take action with confidence.
OVERVIEW
Real estate investing is full of opportunity — but also noise. REIMentor helps beginners cut through the overwhelm by matching them with experienced, trustworthy mentors who’ve walked the path before them.
REIMentor is a concept for a mentorship platform that connects aspiring real estate investors with vetted mentors. I drove the project from user interviews to competitive research, wireframes, and usability testing — aiming to build trust, simplicity, and business viability into a lean MVP.
ROLE
Product Strategist & Designer
TIMELINE
Sept 2024 - Feb 2025
DESIGN THINKING PROCESS
PROBLEM
Why Real Estate Mentorship is Broken (and How We’re Fixing It)
Aspiring real estate investors often feel lost. They’re motivated and eager to build wealth, but struggle to find trusted and personalized guidance. Online content can be overwhelming or contradictory. Formal coaching is expensive. So they’re left asking:
Who can I actually trust with advice that’s tailored to my situation?
There’s a gap between education and execution - and that’s where REIMentor fits.
DISCOVER
There’s a platform gap for trust-first, mentorship-led solutions designed specifically for first-time real estate investors — one that balances guidance, affordability, and human connection.
Competitive Analysis
While REIMentor doesn’t have direct competitors with an identical model, there are several adjacent platforms in the real estate education space. To better understand the landscape, I conducted a SWOT and UX analysis on two companies with aligned missions to support and educate real estate investors.
BiggerPockets
BiggerPockets is a well-known platform in the real estate space, offering massive content variety and strong community trust through forums, podcasts, and tools. However, the sheer volume of content can overwhelm beginners, and the lack of personalized mentorship makes it difficult for users to translate learning into action. From a UX perspective, the platform feels dense and self-guided, with a functional but outdated layout better suited to intermediate users comfortable navigating a lot of information.
Roofstock
Roofstock Academy focuses on structured, expert-led education programs, with personalized coaching and strong alignment to its parent marketplace. Its polished, industry-aligned UI supports a serious, professional tone, though some educational content is gated. The platform’s high price point and rigid coaching format may alienate casual or first-time investors. Overall, it’s a strong fit for motivated, remote-first learners seeking institutional knowledge — but not ideal for users who prefer flexible mentorship or community-based support.
User Research
Three individuals who classify themselves as beginner to intermediate investors were interviewed over Zoom. I found these individuals through my personal network.
Objective: Understand goals, motivation, needs, and pain points when searching for reliable expert advice on real estate investing.
Key Research Insights
Desire for
Financial Freedom
Investors are seeking long-term financial freedom and consistent passive income, aiming to free up time for family, hobbies, or new ventures.
Content Overload
The abundance of information is overwhelming and often disorganized, making it difficult for users to find reliable and relevant guidance.
Lack of
Personalized Advice
Investors struggle to find tailored recommendations aligned with their goals, financial situation, and market conditions.
Cost Barriers
Many investors either can’t afford or don’t want to spend large sums on traditional coaches or mentorship programs.
Expert Validation
Investors feel more confident when their decisions are validated by unbiased experts, such as brokers or agents.
DEFINE
I framed the MVP around a single, high-impact goal: connect mentees with the right mentor — fast. Every design decision focused on building trust, reducing friction, and guiding users toward meaningful conversations.
User Personas
Based on recurring patterns from the research insights, I identified two primary user personas that represent the goals, frustrations, and motivations of aspiring real estate investors — each with distinct needs that shaped key design decisions.
Product Goals
Every design choice for REIMentor laddered back to the product vision: build trust, simplify decision-making, and empower first-time investors to take action. These goals translated into clear “how” statements, why they matter, and the UX implications that informed the platform’s core features.
Build Trust Through Transparency and Relatability
HOW
Surface high-quality mentor profiles with clear detailed bios and verified experience to help users quickly identify trustworthy guides.
WHY IT MATTERS
First-time investors need emotional safety before making decisions. Trust is built visually and contextually, not just through credentials.
UX IMPLICATION
Focus on human-centered design elements (e.g., photos, relatable bios) and credibility signals (reviews, shared backgrounds, badges).
Reduce Decision Fatigue by Personalizing Discovery
HOW
Help users find the right mentor faster through goal-based filters, shared strategies, and simplified profile comparisons.
WHY IT MATTERS
Beginners are already overwhelmed. Surfacing the right options based on user needs lowers cognitive load and increases engagement.
UX IMPLICATION
Smart filtering (e.g., “house hacking,” “short-term rentals”), progressive disclosure of info, and simplified mentor cards.
Increase User Confidence Through Actionable, Low-Risk First Steps
HOW
Provide clear, guided paths to connect with mentors — from booking a call to asking a question — to help users feel informed and in control.
WHY IT MATTERS
Confidence comes from clarity. Small, supported steps (like booking a discovery call) empower users to move forward.
UX IMPLICATION
CTAs that encourage exploration, intro call options, lightweight onboarding, and transparent expectations.
DESIGN
I started with a low-fidelity prototype to quickly map out the core mentor discovery and booking flow. After refining the layout and interactions into a mid-fidelity version, I conducted usability testing with target users to evaluate trust signals, clarity, and ease of use.
Low Fidelity Wireframes
Rather than build a full-featured marketplace upfront, I prioritized the core journey: finding and booking a relevant mentor. This meant deferring secondary features (e.g. chat, payment) and focusing on trust, discoverability, and profile clarity.
Mid Fidelity Wireframes
These mid-fidelity wireframes blended layout, interaction design, and early visual elements — enabling feedback on both usability and overall look and feel before moving to high fidelity.
TEST
I conducted six moderated remote usability tests with participants to assess the usability of REIMentor’s main features for users interacting with the app for the first time.
Usability Testing Objectives
How easy are the core tasks to complete?
How do users perceive the look and feel of the app?
Are there any areas of improvement in terms of usability and learnability?
What I Learned & Changed
Usability testing uncovered key clarity and trust issues in navigation, search, and visual styling. Addressing these led to a cleaner, more intuitive experience that better supports first-time investors in finding and connecting with the right mentor.
FINAL DESIGNS
The final designs bring together user insights, product goals, and iterative testing to create a clean, approachable experience. Every screen emphasizes trust, clarity, and ease — helping first-time investors confidently connect with the right mentor.
View the Prototype
Sign Up & Onboarding
As a new user, create an account, verify your email, and complete an onboarding survey. As a recurring user, log in using account details or SSO.
Search
Search for a specific mentor using advanced filtering to find exactly what you are looking for or select one of the top rated mentors. You can filter based on a range of criteria, including expertise, ratings, portfolio size, price, and location.
Mentor Profile
Click into a mentor’s profile to get a detailed biography with information on their background, education, experience, and publications.
Book a Session
Seamlessly book an appointment with a mentor of your choosing.
STYLE GUIDE
The style guide defines REIMentor’s visual identity, combining approachable typography, trust-driven colors, and clean UI components to create a consistent, scalable design system.
OUTCOMES
Usability testing and research confirmed a clear gap in the market: beginners want personalized, trustworthy guidance, and current platforms don’t meet that need. The mentor discovery flow, trust-building profile design, and simplified booking process directly addressed those pain points.
Product Potential
If launched, REIMentor’s lean MVP could quickly test demand with a small mentor base, track match success rates, and explore monetization models such as per-session fees or subscription access. Early KPIs could include mentor match rate, booking completion rate, and repeat engagement.
Final Reflection
This project showed me how product thinking and UX design amplify each other: understanding the business opportunity sharpened the design scope, and user insights ensured the solution was grounded in real needs. By focusing on trust, clarity, and action, REIMentor lays the foundation for a scalable mentorship marketplace that could expand beyond real estate into other industries where guidance matters most.
REIMentor
REIMentor
From Overwhelmed to Empowered: Helping new real estate investors find trusted mentors — and take action with confidence.
From Overwhelmed to Empowered: Helping new real estate investors find trusted mentors — and take action with confidence.
OVERVIEW
Real estate investing is full of opportunity — but also noise. REIMentor helps beginners cut through the overwhelm by matching them with experienced, trustworthy mentors who’ve walked the path before them.
Real estate investing is full of opportunity — but also noise. REIMentor helps beginners cut through the overwhelm by matching them with experienced, trustworthy mentors who’ve walked the path before them.
REIMentor is a concept for a mentorship platform that connects aspiring real estate investors with vetted mentors. I drove the project from user interviews to competitive research, wireframes, and usability testing — aiming to build trust, simplicity, and business viability into a lean MVP.
REIMentor is a concept for a mentorship platform that connects aspiring real estate investors with vetted mentors. I drove the project from user interviews to competitive research, wireframes, and usability testing — aiming to build trust, simplicity, and business viability into a lean MVP.
ROLE
Product Strategist & Designer
Product Strategist & Designer
TIMELINE
Sept 2024 - Feb 2025
Sept 2024 - Feb 2025
DESIGN THINKING PROCESS
PROBLEM
Why Real Estate Mentorship is Broken (and How We’re Fixing It)
Why Real Estate Mentorship is Broken (and How We’re Fixing It)
Aspiring real estate investors often feel lost. They’re motivated and eager to build wealth, but struggle to find trusted and personalized guidance. Online content can be overwhelming or contradictory. Formal coaching is expensive. So they’re left asking:
Aspiring real estate investors often feel lost. They’re motivated and eager to build wealth, but struggle to find trusted and personalized guidance. Online content can be overwhelming or contradictory. Formal coaching is expensive. So they’re left asking:
Who can I actually trust with advice that’s tailored to my situation?
Who can I actually trust with advice that’s tailored to my situation?
There’s a gap between education and execution - and that’s where REIMentor fits.
There’s a gap between education and execution - and that’s where REIMentor fits.
DISCOVER
There’s a platform gap for trust-first, mentorship-led solutions designed specifically for first-time real estate investors — one that balances guidance, affordability, and human connection.
There’s a platform gap for trust-first, mentorship-led solutions designed specifically for first-time real estate investors — one that balances guidance, affordability, and human connection.
Competitive Analysis
Competitive Analysis
While REIMentor doesn’t have direct competitors with an identical model, there are several adjacent platforms in the real estate education space. To better understand the landscape, I conducted a SWOT and UX analysis on two companies with aligned missions to support and educate real estate investors.
While REIMentor doesn’t have direct competitors with an identical model, there are several adjacent platforms in the real estate education space. To better understand the landscape, I conducted a SWOT and UX analysis on two companies with aligned missions to support and educate real estate investors.
BiggerPockets
BiggerPockets
BiggerPockets is a well-known platform in the real estate space, offering massive content variety and strong community trust through forums, podcasts, and tools. However, the sheer volume of content can overwhelm beginners, and the lack of personalized mentorship makes it difficult for users to translate learning into action. From a UX perspective, the platform feels dense and self-guided, with a functional but outdated layout better suited to intermediate users comfortable navigating a lot of information.
BiggerPockets is a well-known platform in the real estate space, offering massive content variety and strong community trust through forums, podcasts, and tools. However, the sheer volume of content can overwhelm beginners, and the lack of personalized mentorship makes it difficult for users to translate learning into action. From a UX perspective, the platform feels dense and self-guided, with a functional but outdated layout better suited to intermediate users comfortable navigating a lot of information.
Roofstock
Roofstock
Roofstock Academy focuses on structured, expert-led education programs, with personalized coaching and strong alignment to its parent marketplace. Its polished, industry-aligned UI supports a serious, professional tone, though some educational content is gated. The platform’s high price point and rigid coaching format may alienate casual or first-time investors. Overall, it’s a strong fit for motivated, remote-first learners seeking institutional knowledge — but not ideal for users who prefer flexible mentorship or community-based support.
Roofstock Academy focuses on structured, expert-led education programs, with personalized coaching and strong alignment to its parent marketplace. Its polished, industry-aligned UI supports a serious, professional tone, though some educational content is gated. The platform’s high price point and rigid coaching format may alienate casual or first-time investors. Overall, it’s a strong fit for motivated, remote-first learners seeking institutional knowledge — but not ideal for users who prefer flexible mentorship or community-based support.
User Research
User Research
Three individuals who classify themselves as beginner to intermediate investors were interviewed over Zoom. I found these individuals through my personal network.
Objective: Understand goals, motivation, needs, and pain points when searching for reliable expert advice on real estate investing.
Three individuals who classify themselves as beginner to intermediate investors were interviewed over Zoom. I found these individuals through my personal network.
Objective: Understand goals, motivation, needs, and pain points when searching for reliable expert advice on real estate investing.
Key Research Insights
Key Research Insights
Desire for
Financial Freedom
Investors are seeking long-term financial freedom and consistent passive income, aiming to free up time for family, hobbies, or new ventures.
Content Overload
Content Overload
The abundance of information is overwhelming and often disorganized, making it difficult for users to find reliable and relevant guidance.
Lack of
Personalized Advice
Lack of Personalized Advice
Investors struggle to find tailored recommendations aligned with their goals, financial situation, and market conditions.
Cost Barriers
Cost Barriers
Many investors either can’t afford or don’t want to spend large sums on traditional coaches or mentorship programs.
Expert Validation
Expert Validation
Investors feel more confident when their decisions are validated by unbiased experts, such as brokers or agents.
DEFINE
I framed the MVP around a single, high-impact goal: connect mentees with the right mentor — fast. Every design decision focused on building trust, reducing friction, and guiding users toward meaningful conversations.
I framed the MVP around a single, high-impact goal: connect mentees with the right mentor — fast. Every design decision focused on building trust, reducing friction, and guiding users toward meaningful conversations.
User Personas
Based on recurring patterns from the research insights, I identified two primary user personas that represent the goals, frustrations, and motivations of aspiring real estate investors — each with distinct needs that shaped key design decisions.
Based on recurring patterns from the research insights, I identified two primary user personas that represent the goals, frustrations, and motivations of aspiring real estate investors — each with distinct needs that shaped key design decisions.
Product Goals
Product Goals
Every design choice for REIMentor laddered back to the product vision: build trust, simplify decision-making, and empower first-time investors to take action. These goals translated into clear “how” statements, why they matter, and the UX implications that informed the platform’s core features.
Every design choice for REIMentor laddered back to the product vision: build trust, simplify decision-making, and empower first-time investors to take action. These goals translated into clear “how” statements, why they matter, and the UX implications that informed the platform’s core features.
Build Trust Through Transparency and Relatability
Build Trust Through Transparency and Relatability
HOW
HOW
Surface high-quality mentor profiles with clear detailed bios and verified experience to help users quickly identify trustworthy guides.
Surface high-quality mentor profiles with clear detailed bios and verified experience to help users quickly identify trustworthy guides.
WHY IT MATTERS
WHY IT MATTERS
First-time investors need emotional safety before making decisions. Trust is built visually and contextually, not just through credentials.
First-time investors need emotional safety before making decisions. Trust is built visually and contextually, not just through credentials.
UX IMPLICATION
UX IMPLICATION
Focus on human-centered design elements (e.g., photos, relatable bios) and credibility signals (reviews, shared backgrounds, badges).
Focus on human-centered design elements (e.g., photos, relatable bios) and credibility signals (reviews, shared backgrounds, badges).
Reduce Decision Fatigue by Personalizing Discovery
Reduce Decision Fatigue by Personalizing Discovery
HOW
HOW
Help users find the right mentor faster through goal-based filters, shared strategies, and simplified profile comparisons.
Help users find the right mentor faster through goal-based filters, shared strategies, and simplified profile comparisons.
WHY IT MATTERS
WHY IT MATTERS
Beginners are already overwhelmed. Surfacing the right options based on user needs lowers cognitive load and increases engagement.
Beginners are already overwhelmed. Surfacing the right options based on user needs lowers cognitive load and increases engagement.
UX IMPLICATION
UX IMPLICATION
Smart filtering (e.g., “house hacking,” “short-term rentals”), progressive disclosure of info, and simplified mentor cards.
Smart filtering (e.g., “house hacking,” “short-term rentals”), progressive disclosure of info, and simplified mentor cards.
Increase User Confidence Through Actionable, Low-Risk First Steps
Increase User Confidence Through Actionable, Low-Risk First Steps
HOW
HOW
Provide clear, guided paths to connect with mentors — from booking a call to asking a question — to help users feel informed and in control.
Provide clear, guided paths to connect with mentors — from booking a call to asking a question — to help users feel informed and in control.
WHY IT MATTERS
WHY IT MATTERS
Confidence comes from clarity. Small, supported steps (like booking a discovery call) empower users to move forward.
Confidence comes from clarity. Small, supported steps (like booking a discovery call) empower users to move forward.
UX IMPLICATION
UX IMPLICATION
CTAs that encourage exploration, intro call options, lightweight onboarding, and transparent expectations.
CTAs that encourage exploration, intro call options, lightweight onboarding, and transparent expectations.
DESIGN
I started with a low-fidelity prototype to quickly map out the core mentor discovery and booking flow. After refining the layout and interactions into a mid-fidelity version, I conducted usability testing with target users to evaluate trust signals, clarity, and ease of use.
I started with a low-fidelity prototype to quickly map out the core mentor discovery and booking flow. After refining the layout and interactions into a mid-fidelity version, I conducted usability testing with target users to evaluate trust signals, clarity, and ease of use.
Low Fidelity Wireframes
Low Fidelity Wireframes
Rather than build a full-featured marketplace upfront, I prioritized the core journey: finding and booking a relevant mentor. This meant deferring secondary features (e.g. chat, payment) and focusing on trust, discoverability, and profile clarity.
Rather than build a full-featured marketplace upfront, I prioritized the core journey: finding and booking a relevant mentor. This meant deferring secondary features (e.g. chat, payment) and focusing on trust, discoverability, and profile clarity.
Mid Fidelity Wireframes
Mid Fidelity Wireframes
These mid-fidelity wireframes blended layout, interaction design, and early visual elements — enabling feedback on both usability and overall look and feel before moving to high fidelity.
These mid-fidelity wireframes blended layout, interaction design, and early visual elements — enabling feedback on both usability and overall look and feel before moving to high fidelity.
TEST
I conducted six moderated remote usability tests with participants to assess the usability of REIMentor’s main features for users interacting with the app for the first time.
I conducted six moderated remote usability tests with participants to assess the usability of REIMentor’s main features for users interacting with the app for the first time.
Usability Testing Objectives
Usability Testing Objectives
How easy are the core tasks to complete?
How easy are the core tasks to complete?
How do users perceive the look and feel of the app?
How do users perceive the look and feel of the app?
Are there any areas of improvement in terms of usability and learnability?
Are there any areas of improvement in terms of usability and learnability?
What I Learned & Changed
What I Learned & Changed
Usability testing uncovered key clarity and trust issues in navigation, search, and visual styling. Addressing these led to a cleaner, more intuitive experience that better supports first-time investors in finding and connecting with the right mentor.
Usability testing uncovered key clarity and trust issues in navigation, search, and visual styling. Addressing these led to a cleaner, more intuitive experience that better supports first-time investors in finding and connecting with the right mentor.
FINAL DESIGNS
The final designs bring together user insights, product goals, and iterative testing to create a clean, approachable experience. Every screen emphasizes trust, clarity, and ease — helping first-time investors confidently connect with the right mentor.
The final designs bring together user insights, product goals, and iterative testing to create a clean, approachable experience. Every screen emphasizes trust, clarity, and ease — helping first-time investors confidently connect with the right mentor.
View the Prototype
View the Prototype
Sign Up & Onboarding
Sign Up & Onboarding
As a new user, create an account, verify your email, and complete an onboarding survey. As a recurring user, log in using account details or SSO.
As a new user, create an account, verify your email, and complete an onboarding survey. As a recurring user, log in using account details or SSO.
Search
Search
Search for a specific mentor using advanced filtering to find exactly what you are looking for or select one of the top rated mentors. You can filter based on a range of criteria, including expertise, ratings, portfolio size, price, and location.
Search for a specific mentor using advanced filtering to find exactly what you are looking for or select one of the top rated mentors. You can filter based on a range of criteria, including expertise, ratings, portfolio size, price, and location.
Mentor Profile
Mentor Profile
Click into a mentor’s profile to get a detailed biography with information on their background, education, experience, and publications.
Click into a mentor’s profile to get a detailed biography with information on their background, education, experience, and publications.
Book a Session
Book a Session
Seamlessly book an appointment with a mentor of your choosing.
Seamlessly book an appointment with a mentor of your choosing.
STYLE GUIDE
The style guide defines REIMentor’s visual identity, combining approachable typography, trust-driven colors, and clean UI components to create a consistent, scalable design system.
OUTCOMES
Usability testing and research confirmed a clear gap in the market: beginners want personalized, trustworthy guidance, and current platforms don’t meet that need. The mentor discovery flow, trust-building profile design, and simplified booking process directly addressed those pain points.
Usability testing and research confirmed a clear gap in the market: beginners want personalized, trustworthy guidance, and current platforms don’t meet that need. The mentor discovery flow, trust-building profile design, and simplified booking process directly addressed those pain points.
Product Potential
Product Potential
If launched, REIMentor’s lean MVP could quickly test demand with a small mentor base, track match success rates, and explore monetization models such as per-session fees or subscription access. Early KPIs could include mentor match rate, booking completion rate, and repeat engagement.
If launched, REIMentor’s lean MVP could quickly test demand with a small mentor base, track match success rates, and explore monetization models such as per-session fees or subscription access. Early KPIs could include mentor match rate, booking completion rate, and repeat engagement.
Final Reflection
Final Reflection
This project showed me how product thinking and UX design amplify each other: understanding the business opportunity sharpened the design scope, and user insights ensured the solution was grounded in real needs. By focusing on trust, clarity, and action, REIMentor lays the foundation for a scalable mentorship marketplace that could expand beyond real estate into other industries where guidance matters most.
This project showed me how product thinking and UX design amplify each other: understanding the business opportunity sharpened the design scope, and user insights ensured the solution was grounded in real needs. By focusing on trust, clarity, and action, REIMentor lays the foundation for a scalable mentorship marketplace that could expand beyond real estate into other industries where guidance matters most.
© 2025 Yamuna Navada. All rights reserved.
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© 2025 Yamuna Navada. All rights reserved.
Let’s collaborate!