Community Highlights: Meet Dominique Brown of Brown Tree Investments, LLC

Today we’d like to introduce you to Dominique Brown.

Hi Dominique, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
After earning my B.S. in Sport Management from Hampton University, I had one very specific goal: I wanted to become the first Black person to own an NBA team.

I quickly learned that required becoming nearly a billionaire first. Then Bob Johnson, founder of BET, beat me to it. LOL
Still, that dream says a lot about who I’ve always been. Even then, I wasn’t just thinking about working in an industry. I was thinking about ownership.

I started my career in sports, working with organizations including the San Diego Padres and Disney Sports and Recreation. My career eventually took me into entrepreneurship and corporate America, but that desire to build and own something never really left.

In 2017, I entered real estate, and since then I’ve sold millions of dollars in property and helped countless clients. I loved helping people buy and sell homes, but around 2020, I became increasingly curious about the investment side of the business.

I started investing through REITs, and then a college friend and I acquired a property through a tax lien for less than $13,000. That changed everything for me.

On one hand, I was selling million-dollar homes. On the other, I was discovering that you didn’t need a million dollars or even hundreds of thousands of dollars to participate in real estate.

It felt like I had discovered another way to play Monopoly.

You don’t have to start with Boardwalk or Park Place. You just have to find a way to get on the board.

That realization excited me because I wanted other people to know what I was learning. For so many people, real estate investing can feel inaccessible, like something you do after you’ve already built wealth. My experience showed me that there are different entry points, and your starting point doesn’t have to look like someone else’s.

That shifted my thinking from “How can I sell more real estate?” to “How can I help more people participate in real estate?”

That philosophy is at the heart of Brown Tree Investments today.

We help individuals and families buy real estate and build long term wealth through traditional sales and leasing, while also educating people about strategies such as REITs, tax liens, and other alternative wealth building opportunities.

Interestingly enough, when I look back at that young Hampton graduate who dreamed of owning an NBA team, the dream may have changed, but the idea behind it really hasn’t.

I’ve always believed in ownership.

My message is simple: Get on the board.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Hell no! LOL.

Imagine moving to Los Angeles with no family nearby and trying to figure out life, career, entrepreneurship, and adulthood all at the same time.

Capital, or the lack thereof, has definitely posed challenges at different points along the way. One of the biggest lessons was figuring out how to make sure my floor was covered in LA while still pursuing the bigger vision.

Dreams are exciting, but bills are real.

One thing I’m proud of is that I’ve always understood that sometimes you have to do what you have to do to get where you want to be. I’ve never been afraid to pivot, work, or make the practical decision necessary for a particular season. Every move doesn’t have to look impressive. Sometimes what looks like a step backward is actually positioning you to take three steps forward.

Los Angeles also forced me to pay attention to something I think I had always known instinctively: community matters.

I’m an only child, and I’ve never met a stranger. I will literally talk to anyone. LOL. Connecting with people has always come naturally to me. Growing up in Cincinnati, there was a familiarity and sense of community, and I never felt like I had to put much effort into maintaining relationships.

LA was different. You can meet somebody today, have an amazing conversation, say, “We definitely have to connect,” and literally never see that person again. LOL.

I had to learn that meeting people and building relationships are two very different things. So, I became more intentional.

I joined organizations and groups that aligned with my character, vision, and goals. I put myself in rooms where I could build genuine relationships with people who shared similar values, while also connecting with people whose experiences and perspectives challenged me to grow.

People always say, “Your network is your net worth.” I’ve learned that the real value isn’t simply in how many people you know. It’s in the community you build.

Looking back, many of the things that challenged me ultimately became strengths.

Periods when capital was tight made me more resourceful and strategic. Building a life thousands of miles away from home sharpened my grit. Being intentional about my relationships helped me build a genuine community. And navigating different seasons taught me how to pivot without losing sight of the bigger vision.

The challenges didn’t change the destination. They taught me how to get there.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Brown Tree Investments, LLC?
Brown Tree Investments is about more than real estate. It’s about access, education, ownership, and ultimately, legacy.

We help individuals and families purchase real estate and build long term wealth. Our work includes residential and commercial sales and leasing, along with education around alternative investment strategies such as REITs, tax liens, and other wealth building opportunities.

What sets us apart is that we’re not interested in simply completing a transaction. We want to build informed owners and investors.

Real estate can be intimidating. There are a lot of terms, strategies, and opportunities that people may have heard about but don’t fully understand. At Brown Tree Investments, part of our job is to make that information easier to understand and help people determine what actually makes sense for their goals.

That’s why education is such an important part of the brand. Through workshops, digital courses, and personalized client partnerships, we’re creating opportunities for people to learn before they make a move. I want our clients to have clarity and confidence, whether they’re preparing to purchase their first home or thinking more strategically about building an investment portfolio.

I’m most proud that Brown Tree Investments reflects what I genuinely believe about wealth building: information shouldn’t be exclusive.

You shouldn’t have to grow up around investors or already be wealthy to learn how wealth is built. Sometimes access begins with simply being introduced to an opportunity, understanding how it works, and knowing what questions to ask.

That’s also why our phrase “Get on the Board” means so much to me. It’s bigger than a tagline. It’s an invitation to participate. Your first move doesn’t have to look like someone else’s, but you have to be willing to make a move.

That philosophy also carries into my work as Executive Director of the Dominique Brown Scholarship Foundation. We currently have scholars attending Hampton University, Howard University, and Morehouse College. While the foundation and Brown Tree Investments serve people in different ways, the common thread for me is access and opportunity.

Ultimately, I want people to know Brown Tree Investments as a company that makes ownership and wealth building feel more understandable, strategic, and attainable.

We don’t just want to help you close a deal. We want to help you understand the game, develop your strategy, and get on the board.

So maybe we end on discussing what matters most to you and why?
Family. Without question.

I’m an only child, but I never really grew up like one. I grew up surrounded by cousins who were more like siblings. They were my first best friends, and family was simply part of the rhythm of everyday life.

My grandmother used to say, “You’re going to get along with the people inside this house before you get along with the people outside of this house.” That stayed with me.

I’m Midwest born and raised, with both sides of my family having roots in the South. So the values of family and faith run deep. I was raised to understand that you show up for your people, you stay connected, and you don’t allow success or life to make you forget where you come from.

As I’ve gotten older, my definition of family has expanded. It includes the family I was born into, but also the people I’ve intentionally chosen to do life with. Some of my closest friends have become family because we’ve consistently shown up for one another through different seasons of life.

Family also shapes the way I think about success. I don’t want to build simply for myself. Whether it’s business, real estate, education, or community work, I’m always thinking about what we can create that lasts beyond us.

For me, that’s what legacy really is.

Businesses can evolve. Titles can change. Accomplishments come and go. Family is forever.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.agentdominiquebrown.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/agentdominiquebrown/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dominiqueabrown/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@AgentDominiqueBrown

Image Credits
Makala Lee