North Florida Probate Services

From the Firehouse to Front Porches: How a New York Firefighter and a Southern Entrepreneur Built a Real Estate Legacy in North Florida

Two Unlikely Partners, One Shared Mission

What do a crunchy, straight-talking, retired New York firefighter and a sweet, Southern-born businesswoman have in common? At first glance, not much. One was used to running into burning buildings; the other was known for flipping gyms, tanning salons, and laundromats. But somewhere between a Zig Ziglar seminar and a rural property tour in North Florida, our lives intersected with a shared mission: to change the real estate game by doing good while doing well.

We are Camille Duke and Mark Dobert—partners in business, Certified Affordable Housing Providers, and co-founders of a thriving rental and investor education business in North Florida. Our story is proof that with grit, heart, and the right mentors, you can build wealth ethically and create real impact.

Camille: Roots of a Southern Entrepreneur

Even as a child, I was always an entrepreneur. Growing up in southwest Georgia, the oldest of six, I managed the house while my parents worked, babysat for neighbors, cleaned offices, and even wrote a column for the local newspaper. By the time I graduated from the University of West Florida, I was already known as the person you called to fix what was broken.

But I quickly learned a college degree didn’t guarantee financial security. In 2000, I decided it was time to stop working for others and start building something of my own. That’s when I began buying turnaround businesses—gyms, a tanning salon, a laundromat—and flipping them for profit. Around that time, I attended a Zig Ziglar “Get Motivated” seminar that changed my life. I was fired up and knew real estate was my next path.

I dove into real estate, buying distressed homes, doing rent-to-own deals, and managing rehabs. Then 2008 hit. Like so many, I took a big hit, but I didn’t give up. I adapted. I rebuilt.

In 2013, when my mother fell fatally ill, I sold everything and moved home to care for her. Fortunately, real estate allowed me the flexibility to continue working while caregiving. After she passed in 2020, I settled in Crawfordville, a small town outside of Tallahassee that had a huge need for quality rental housing. I saw an opportunity to not only rebuild my life but help others along the way.

Mark: From Debt Slave to Wealth Builder

I worked with my back for most of my life—as a firefighter and medic in New York for 28 years. But being a public servant didn’t shield me from financial struggle. I was always broke, always in debt. As retirement neared, I knew I needed a plan. Real estate caught my eye around 2005, but the timing was off. The market was overheated, and I barely made it out before the crash.

Thankfully, I sold my home just in time and moved to a rural rental with five acres for $900 a month—down from my previous $2,700 mortgage. That decision alone saved me $30,000 a year. With the profits from the sale, I launched a hard money lending business. Developers couldn’t get credit post-crash, so they came to me. I took collateral, made secure loans, and earned a solid return. For the first time in my life, I was winning with money.

But I wanted out of New York. The high taxes and bureaucratic chaos wore me down. So I moved to Florida, where I continued investing on my own. Then I met Camille.

We first crossed paths at a real estate meeting she founded in Tallahassee, which reminded me of the group I’d started in New York. I jokingly asked her to lunch—she laughed. A few weeks later, she called for something else, and we finally sat down together. We clicked. Within months, we became business partners, and that was the beginning of a new chapter.

Building a Business That Does Good

At first, we flipped houses. It was fast money, but we noticed other investors were holding rentals—brand new ones, in good neighborhoods, and renting them out with ease. I remembered what my mentor told me: wealth is built slowly, not quickly. That lesson stuck. Camille and I shifted our focus to long-term investing, and over the next five years, we went from nothing to a $15 million portfolio.

We also co-founded the Tallahassee Investors Network, a real estate investment association (REIA) where we teach people how to build wealth the right way. Through live events, mentorship, and hands-on support, we’ve helped dozens upon dozens of families and investors create financial security without relying on a nine-to-five grind.

Providing Homes with Purpose

Our properties aren’t just rentals—they’re stepping stones. We specialize in lease options, rent-to-own programs, and owner-financed homes, giving families the opportunity to move toward ownership even if they’re not ready today.

We believe every person deserves to live in a home they’re proud of, in a neighborhood where their kids can thrive. That’s why we buy in good school districts and desirable subdivisions. We don’t cut corners. We rehab houses with care and keep them maintained. As I often say, “Every dog deserves a backyard”—which is why my Berger Blanc Suisse (white Swiss shepherd), Rolex, is featured in our ads.

Many of our tenants end up buying from us. If they’re not ready yet, we help them get there—whether it takes two years or five. We educate them on credit, savings, and how to choose a home that will build wealth over time. We don’t want people making rookie mistakes like overpaying or buying in declining areas. We want them winning.

Creative Investing to Solve Real Problems

With today’s higher interest rates, we’ve adapted again. We’re not chasing traditional bank loans. Instead, we help distressed homeowners—people facing foreclosure, probate complications, or debt they can’t manage. We offer creative solutions: taking over their mortgage payments, offering equity buyouts, or doing lease options.

This keeps people from ruining their credit, gives them a graceful exit, and puts a high-quality rental on the market for a family in need. It’s a win-win. We also use these properties to teach our investor students how to think creatively and ethically.

Learning from the Firehouse Millionaires

Back in New York, I worked alongside guys who made $50,000 a year but lived in $5 million homes. Why? Because they owned 150+ rental units. One fireman owned 850! After every fire, he’d hand the property owner his card and say, “The insurance company will cut you a check tomorrow. I’ll buy your house today.”

His construction crew would be on-site the next day, clearing debris and starting rehab. He wasn’t just working his firehouse shift—he was building wealth. Most of my fellow firefighters didn’t understand what he was doing. They stayed stuck in debt, paycheck to paycheck.

That’s why Camille and I are passionate about mentoring. We teach people that it’s not just about money—it’s about freedom, legacy, and smart leverage. And we’re living proof that you can start late, start over, or start small—and still win big.

The Bigger Mission

We aren’t just building a portfolio. We’re creating better communities. We’re helping families stay out of foreclosure. We’re making probate transitions smoother. We’re mentoring students who never thought financial freedom was possible.

Real estate isn’t just about properties. It’s about people. And when you approach it with a servant’s heart, the money follows.

That’s why we proudly carry the banner of a Certified Affordable Housing Provider. Through this model, we create safe, clean, well-maintained homes that help people build equity, dignity, and long-term success. Whether we’re guiding a tenant to homeownership, helping an investor buy their first property, aiding a family in getting an inherited property ready for sale or preventing a foreclosure, our goal is the same: to change lives through real estate.

Final Thoughts

If you’re reading this and wondering whether you can do what we’ve done, the answer is yes. You don’t need to be rich, connected, or lucky. You just need grit, the right support, and a willingness to serve.

We’re not unicorns. We’re just a couple of regular people—one from New York, one from Georgia—who learned how to turn challenges into opportunity and opportunity into legacy.

Real estate gave us freedom. Now, we help others find theirs. That’s how you do good while doing well.