3 minute read
Woman and Mentor of the Year
Woman
Chimene M. Van Gundy
Real Estate Investor and Entrepreneur
Outstanding Real Estate
Solutions, Inc. and
Mobile Home Millions, LLC
Year
Chimene Van Gundy is a real estate investor and entrepreneur with Outstanding Real Estate Solutions, Inc. and Mobile Home Millions, LLC, who invests in mobile homes and mobile home parks which provide affordable housing to people across the U.S. After completing her B.A. magna cum laude in Criminal Justice from the University of Texas at San Antonio in 2006, she worked multiple jobs in the corporate world and served as the lead paralegal for several different law firms. After being laid off in 2015, Chimene decided that rather than working for another corporation she would be her own boss. She read the novel “Rich Dad Poor Dad” which became a wakeup call for her and changed her life. Having spent time in and out of the foster care system, no one taught her about money, credit, or budgets. So, after hearing her husband say, “I believe in you,” she took some real estate education classes, found a mentor and the rest is history.
A true entrepreneur, Chimene runs and manages five different companies. She is known as the “The Mobile Home Millionaire” and “Queen of Mobile Homes” because she has fixed, flipped, and wholesaled more than 500 units to date, all in four years. She does business in 11 states and has taken her business international as well, rehabbing mobile homes in Ireland where they are called “holiday homes.” She is a member of W.R.E.N. Chimene serves as a featured writer for Think Realty magazine, where she educates others on the mobile home asset class. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her five children, horseback riding, dancing, musicals, ballet, theater, and animals.
What advice would you give your younger self?
To not worry about what other people think. It is none of my business what others’ opinions are of me. I will continue to always pursue my dreams.
How did you get started in selling mobile homes?
When I entered the real estate game in 2015, I realized there was a ton of competition. I also discovered it was very much a man’s world. Then, I bought my first mobile home after attending a tax sale and bidding on a mobile home that all the other investors thumbed their nose at. They literally called mobile homes “trailer trash.” Mobile home deals kept falling into my lap and I realized that no one was in that space. I seized the opportunity to stake my flag in this space as a leader. I have never looked back.
What gave you the idea to branch out to Ireland to sell mobile homes?
I was on my dream vacation with my husband in Ireland when I made him stop so I could see this mobile home lot. I couldn’t believe they had them there. I crawled underneath one so I could see if there was any difference between theirs and ours in the U.S. In Ireland they call them “holiday homes.” I met with the manager and he was very impressed with my knowledge level. That led to a joint venture with the company there. I have been working in Europe ever since. Even while vacationing I was open to opportunity.
What does the word power mean to you?
It means I am in control of my own destiny and make the life I create. My life has become amazing and I am so grateful this point in my life. I can do what I want when I want to. Life is precious, so you should always show up and create the life of your dreams because no one else will.
