Meet Don Wede

Don Wede is a veteran real estate investor who began buying houses in 1985 and founded Heartland Funding Inc. in 1990. He built a diverse career through rentals, wholesaling, discounted notes, and tax certificate investments. With a background in pharmacy, Don combines financial expertise with a people-first approach to real estate.

Honestly, I didn’t plan to get into real estate at all. Back in 1985, I was working as a pharmacist, fresh out of school, making good money, and had great credit. My brother, on the other hand, didn’t have the best credit, so he came to me and our mother with an idea: he wanted to buy two VA homes at auction, fix them up, and sell them. I figured, why not? He’d do the work, and I’d help with the financing.

Things were going smoothly until he got divorced and suddenly dropped everything. I was left with a half-renovated house and no clue what to do. I wasn’t handy, but I found someone who was—actually, someone who’s become one of my best friends today. He finished the renovations, and I decided to rent the house out.

When that rent check came in, something clicked. I realized this could work. So, without really meaning to, I became a landlord. Before long, people were coming to me saying, “Hey Don, I heard you buy houses.” And just like that, I found myself owning multiple rental properties. That one unexpected moment with my brother ended up being the beginning of my lifelong journey in real estate.