The Sale That Uncovered My Life’s Purpose

When I began my career in real estate in October 2006, it wasn’t because I’d dreamed of doing it all my life — I hadn’t. At the time, I was a college student at Drexel University with a clear idea of the path my life would take. But when a mentor encouraged me to explore the world of real estate, I decided to give it a shot. Little did I know that this decision would change the trajectory of my entire life. 

I entered the market at its peak, marketing “no-money-down” financing options. One of my early ads caught the attention of Cynthia, a woman who had rented the same apartment for 22 years. Her rent had remained a steady $425 per month until her landlord unexpectedly doubled it, pricing her out of the place she called home for over two decades. Unable to afford the increase and facing the threat of eviction, Cynthia responded to my ad out of necessity. 

I took Cynthia to see a single-story home, as she had made it clear on the phone that she needed a house without stairs, but upon arrival, we realized there were steps leading up to the front door. Due to her mobility issues, she was unable to enter the house. I apologized, promising to do better next time, but as we walked back to our cars, Cynthia tripped and fell. Unable to help her back up, I had to call 911. While she wasn’t injured, the incident left her deeply embarrassed. After that day, she stopped returning my calls. 

I didn’t want to give up on Cynthia because I knew she was in a difficult situation, and I wanted to find her a home that would truly fit her needs. Eventually, she agreed to go back out and look at houses again. This time, I took her to a better-suited home, one that was accessible and within her budget. She was happy with it and decided to proceed with the purchase. 

When closing day finally arrived, it was snowing in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. Cynthia called me, saying she couldn’t get her car out of the driveway due to the conditions. At the time, I had an SUV, but I knew she wouldn’t be able to climb into it, so I borrowed a more suitable vehicle and picked her up. We signed the papers that day, and the house was hers. 

After we finished the paperwork, I asked when she planned to move in. “This weekend,” she replied. “Who’s helping you?” I asked. Cynthia didn’t say a word — she just looked back at me, and that was all I needed to hear. I showed up that weekend and moved her in myself.

That was the story of the first home I ever sold. I made $500, but the true value was in helping Cynthia secure an affordable home that met her needs — one that offered her stability, dignity, and a place to call her own. Cynthia has now lived in that same home for over 17 years. Every year, she sends my family a Christmas card and still occasionally calls me to catch up.

Helping Cynthia not only ignited my passion for real estate, but it also revealed to me how my business could be a powerful platform for transforming lives. I realized early on that the value of my work wasn’t found in commissions or closings; it was in helping people move from fear to stability and from crisis to opportunity.

I set a goal to build a purpose-driven organization that used real estate as a force for good, and even in the depths of the 2008 housing crisis, that focus never wavered. Instead of walking away when the market collapsed, my team and I leaned in, helping families avoid foreclosure and keep their homes. That impact-driven mindset is still woven into the fabric of DLP Capital’s culture today. 

In 2014, my purpose became even clearer: to build thriving communities where residents can flourish and lives can be transformed through safe, attainable housing solutions. That purpose is what drives DLP Capital — from our investments and lending strategies to the partners and communities we serve.

Today, we’re focused on scalable impact. We fund developments that are safe and attainable, supporting and partnering with operators and developers who share our commitment to transforming lives through housing. But our work extends far beyond brick and mortar.

Across more than 100,000 residents living in DLP-owned and managed communities, our goal is to create places where people choose to stay, not just for a season, but for years to come. (Over 100,000 residents is the total of existing and future residents in properties DLP Capital-sponsored funds are invested in based on internal DLP Capital data as of September 30, 2025.) While the industry average resident tenure is about 15 months, our goal is for residents to call our communities home for 8 years or more, a reflection of the deep sense of belonging and stability we strive to create. Through on-site ministry support, resident engagement events, financial literacy programs, and our Thriving Community Life initiatives, we’re transforming neighbors into friends and housing developments into vibrant communities. 

The long-term result? Families who don’t just live in our communities but thrive in them, planting deep roots, pursuing their dreams, and building brighter futures together as a part of something greater than themselves. They are the reason why we remain relentless in our pursuit to make safe, attainable living a reality for all.  Housing is our vehicle, transforming lives is our destination, and being part of the journey is our blessing — that’s the heart behind what we do at DLP Capital.

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