Bank On Your Neighbor: A People-First Real Estate Strategy to Build Wealth Together

by Mel Dorman

Bank on Your Neighbor is a radical, practical guide to seller financing and community-based investing—written for everyday people who are ready to reclaim financial power.

TEDx speaker and financial activist Mel Dorman went from dumpster diving to a multimillion-dollar portfolio—not by winning the lottery or working 80-hour weeks, but by cutting out the banks and partnering directly with sellers. Now, she’s sharing the exact blueprint that helped her do it.

Inside this book, you’ll learn how

Find off-market deals other investors never seeNegotiate win-win seller financing terms without a bank in sightRaise private capital — no rich uncles or Wall Street connections requiredCreate long-term wealth rooted in values, not exploitation
Whether you’re a first-time investor, burned-out professional, or social justice-minded wealth builder, this book gives you more than strategy—it gives you permission to do real estate differently.

No gatekeepers. No suits. Just people helping people build lasting wealth.

381 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 9, 2025

Reviews

[Kyra · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is exactly the type of book I’ve been looking for for years in my journey to discover what being an “ethical landlord” means. Mel Dorman answers that with a creative approach I’ve never heard of but am excited to learn more about and put it into practice. I was surprised and happy to see the book is written in a way that’s very neurodivergent friendly. It’s to the point, uses short sentences & paragraphs, is clear, and it reemphasizes important points to make sure you remember them. I will definitely be returning to this book year after year and will be sharing it with my network.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway.

This book offers a fresh, people-focused approach to real estate investing. Mel Dorman shows how building community and working together can help you create wealth—making investing feel more personal and less stressful.