In this powerful episode of the Generations of Wealth Podcast, Derek Dombeck sits down with fellow investor and mobile home park mogul Derek Vickers. What began as a door-to-door insurance hustle turned into a multimillion-dollar mobile home park portfolio spanning the Sunbelt.
Vickers shares how he went from making $13,000 his first year in sales to now owning 44 parks and 2,100 lots, plus insights into perseverance, communication, and the art of negotiation. The two Dereks dive deep into raising private capital, structuring deals, managing teams, and maintaining integrity in the business — all while emphasizing mindset, accountability, and persistence.
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🔍 Overview
In this episode of the Generations of Wealth Podcast, host Derek Dombeck sits down with fellow real estate powerhouse Derek Vickers, the founder of Victory Capital.
Vickers went from door-to-door insurance salesman making $13K a year to owning 44 mobile home parks and over 2,100 lots across the Sunbelt all in just a few years.
They unpack the truth about persistence, negotiation, and scaling, while revealing how mindset and accountability can completely change your financial trajectory.
Whether you’re a beginner or seasoned investor, this conversation offers a masterclass in building wealth through discipline, people skills, and problem solving.
🧭 Episode Outline
00:00 – 03:00 • Two Dereks, One Mission – Introductions and shared humor
03:01 – 10:00 • Vickers’ Early Days – From small-town Virginia to Florida sales hustle
10:01 – 16:00 • Discovering Real Estate – Why mobile home parks made sense
16:01 – 22:00 • The Tenacity Factor – Cold calls, rejections, and relentless follow-through
22:01 – 28:00 • The Art of Negotiation – Communication and “No Means Not Yet”
28:01 – 35:00 • Scaling Smart – Building a high-performing acquisitions and management team
35:01 – 41:00 • Raising Capital – Shifting from asking for money to offering opportunity
41:01 – 45:00 • Market Outlook & Final Insights – Staying steady in all market cycles
💡 Key Takeaways
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Persistence Creates Opportunity: Success compounds when you simply refuse to quit.
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Negotiation = Communication: The best dealmakers focus on understanding people, not forcing results.
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Affordable Housing Wins: Mobile home parks remain one of the most recession-resistant asset classes.
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Raise Capital with Confidence: Offer investors a partnership in opportunity, not a plea for money.
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Accountability is Power: Taking responsibility for both wins and losses builds long-term credibility.
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Systems Build Freedom: Growth requires structure, a strong team, and disciplined leadership.
🏘️ Relevant Topics Discussed
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Building a mobile home park empire from scratch
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Affordable housing and market safety
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Real-world sales and communication strategies
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“No Means Not Yet” negotiation mindset
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Raising private capital and managing investors
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Structuring funds and value-add strategies
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Team building and leadership in real estate
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Economic cycles and market resilience
🎧 Why You Should Listen
This conversation goes beyond deals — it’s about the mindset of mastery.
Both Dereks share candid stories about rejection, growth, and the power of keeping your word to yourself.
If you’ve ever wondered how to break through plateaus, raise money confidently, or build a team that scales, this episode is for you.
You’ll walk away with actionable insight on how to:
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Turn adversity into acceleration
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Negotiate with purpose and authenticity
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Build a recession-resistant portfolio
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Lead with integrity in every transaction
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About Derek Vickers
Derek Vickers discovered early on that real wealth is built through assets, not from traditional jobs or commissions. After realizing the limits of his career in insurance, he dove into real estate, dedicating himself to understanding the fundamentals of underwriting and deal sourcing. While initially exploring multifamily opportunities in Central Florida, Derek Vickers faced the challenge of raising millions for large-scale deals, which seemed out of reach. He returned to selling insurance, balancing his work with continued studies in real estate. However, the 2020 Covid pandemic marked a turning point—his insurance revenue plummeted, and he recognized the pitfalls of building a business with no equity, scalability, or lasting value.
Determined to break free from the commission cycle, he set his sights on mobile home park investments. After extensive research into the asset class, Derek Vickers was drawn to its strong supply-demand dynamics and its role in addressing affordable housing needs. When an opportunity to invest passively was declined due to limited capital, he decided to take matters into his own hands. Leveraging his skills in cold calling, he dedicated months to sourcing deals and eventually acquired his first mobile home park. Managing the property firsthand—from rent collection to tenant relations—he gained invaluable experience that propelled him forward. His persistence in cold-calling built a robust pipeline of deals, leading to significant acquisitions throughout 2021 and 2022.
This success allowed Derek Vickers to step away from his insurance business and fully focus on real estate. Today, Derek Vickers owns over 2,000 units across 41 mobile home parks and continues to grow his portfolio. He is passionate about helping business owners create cash flow and generational wealth through mobile home park investments. Drawing from his own hard-won lessons, Derek Vickers now mentors others in navigating this asset class to achieve financial freedom and lasting success. Derek Vickers, the CEO of Vicktory Capital, a successful company that operates 42 mobile home parks in the Southeast. With a passion for helping others and a strong drive for success, Derek has quickly become a well-known figure in the industry. When he’s not busy growing his business, Derek enjoys spending quality time with his family, staying active, and helping others achieve greatness through his unwavering commitment to positivity and inspiration.