Davanti Nathaniel Forrester-Dadfar

At PeopleDem property we believe in celebrating our community by spotlighting black excellence in property. Today we are celebrating Davanti Nathaniel Forrester-Dadfar.

Davanti is a property investor and full-time steel fixer, but his journey to this point has been anything but straightforward. His story is one of resilience, redemption, and transformation.

Growing up in a single-parent household, Davanti learned early on the importance of money. That awareness led him to seek opportunities wherever he could find them, which unfortunately drew him into the streets from the age of just 11. Even then, he displayed a strong entrepreneurial mindset. As Davanti explains, he was deeply involved in street life but never worked for anyone else, a trait that older people admired at first. However, as he grew older, his ambition began to make others feel threatened. Feeling trapped and unable to step away, he believed he had to go to extreme lengths to protect himself and his mother, actions that ultimately brought him to the attention of the police and resulted in a 25-month prison sentence.

Davanti was released in February 2022, and shortly afterwards his life changed dramatically. He experienced the loss of his mother while also learning that his partner was pregnant. These two profound events forced him to reflect on his life and commit fully to change. For the first time, he got a job, became a father, and bought a home for his family. While renovating that home, he discovered an interest in property, which became the foundation for his new path.

Today, Davanti has built a portfolio of nine rent-to-serviced accommodation properties that support his cash flow. These properties are largely passive, managed by a team, and primarily used by contractors, relocators, and other professional workers. Alongside this, he is working with an investor on a Buy, Refurbish, Refinance project where he has not invested his own capital. The structure allows the investor to recover their funds along with an agreed return, while Davanti retains the asset. He plans to use this strategy as a springboard to accelerate the growth of his portfolio.

Despite the progress he has made, Davanti’s journey has not been easy. His story serves as a powerful example for those who feel trapped by their past or stuck in destructive environments, showing that there is a way out. Even after turning his life around, he continues to face challenges, including ongoing police harassment. Despite this, he remains focused on moving forward, determined to be a positive role model for his daughter and to build a financial war chest that will give his family both financial and location freedom. His long-term ambition is to create a multi-million-pound property portfolio.

Davanti attributes his success to an unshakeable work ethic and a mindset that refuses to stop in the face of adversity. He believes the world doesn’t pause for hardship, so neither can he. You either dwell on setbacks or keep moving forward. This belief is captured in how he would title the biography of his life: his own name, representing a man he wants to be remembered as relentless, hardworking, and confident in his ability to achieve anything he sets his mind to.

It is clear that his mother played a central role in shaping who he is today. She taught him manners, respect, and the importance of standing up for what is right. As a single working parent with no luxuries, she ensured he never went without the essentials, always providing food, shelter, and stability. That example of sacrifice and perseverance deeply influenced Davanti’s own commitment to caring for his family.

He has also received meaningful support from the Samuel Leeds Academy, where fellow members Adam Oliver and Remell James have given him a platform to share his story on their weekly Instagram Lives. This has helped him grow his confidence and expand his social media presence, allowing him to inspire and reach a wider audience.

Outside of property, Davanti is more than just his work. One of his proudest achievements is winning his first boxing fight on a major show in front of over a thousand people. He also wants people to know that beyond his tough exterior, he is respectful, honest, and kind, while remaining fiercely protective of his family.

If Davanti’s story resonates with you and you are interested in working with him, he is currently seeking support to grow his social media presence and investors who are liquid and looking for a fixed return over a 12-month timeframe. His journey is a powerful reminder that even after prison, loss, and years on the wrong path, change is possible. Too many people are written off by the system, but with opportunity, hard work, and the right network, everything can change, no matter where you start.