We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Sunday McIlwain. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Sunday below.

Sunday, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Can you tell us about a time where you or your team really helped a customer get an amazing result?

A few months ago, we received a call from a homeowner who was just days away from foreclosure. Her home needed major repairs — a leaking roof, outdated plumbing, and years of deferred maintenance. Every agent she spoke with told her she’d have to fix the property before selling, but with no money, time, or energy, that wasn’t an option. The foreclosure date was already set, and her credit score was at risk of taking a serious hit.

At Black Girls Buy Houses, we believe no one should lose their home without options. We visited her property that same day, made a fair cash offer, and committed to closing before the bank’s deadline. In just seven days, we paid off her mortgage in full to stop the foreclosure, gave her additional funds to start fresh, and closed the deal before the foreclosure could appear on her credit. She didn’t have to make a single repair, show the house to strangers, or worry about the process dragging out.

When she signed the papers, she cried tears of relief and told us, “You didn’t just buy my house — you gave me my peace back.” For us, that’s what it’s all about: helping people out of impossible situations so they can move forward with hope and stability.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

My name is Sunday McIlwain, and I’m the founder of Black Girls Buy Apartments and Black Girls Buy Houses — two real estate investment companies focused on transforming communities, creating wealth-building opportunities, and helping families in distress find solutions that work.

I began my career in social work, passionate about helping people, but quickly realized I wanted to create impact on a larger scale. After learning the power of real estate investing, I transitioned into the industry full-time in 2018, starting with renovations and wholesaling before moving into commercial real estate apartment syndication. Today, I specialize in acquiring, renovating, and managing multifamily properties, distressed homes, and niche commercial spaces like personal warehouses.

Through Black Girls Buy Houses, we work directly with homeowners in challenging situations — foreclosure, probate, tax liens, code violations, or simply a need to sell quickly — and provide fair, fast, hassle-free solutions. We’ve been able to help clients stop foreclosures, avoid further credit damage, and walk away with money in their pocket to start fresh.

Through Black Girls Buy Apartments, we open the doors for individuals — especially Black women and first-time investors — to participate in large-scale apartment syndication deals, giving them access to passive income, equity growth, and tax benefits that were once out of reach for most.

What sets me apart is my hands-on approach and the fact that I’ve been on both sides of the table — as someone who understands financial hardship and as an investor who can create win-win solutions. I’m not just in the business of buying property; I’m in the business of building legacies. My work blends financial empowerment with community revitalization, ensuring that every deal benefits both investors and neighborhoods.

I’m most proud of the lives we’ve changed — whether it’s the single mother who avoided foreclosure and kept her credit intact, or the first-time investor who earned passive income for the first time in her life.

If there’s one thing I want people to know, it’s this: Real estate isn’t just for the wealthy — it’s a tool for freedom, stability, and generational wealth. My mission is to make sure more people, especially those who’ve been historically overlooked, have a seat at that table.

Have you ever had to pivot?

During my sophomore year of college, my life took an unexpected and devastating turn when my mother passed away. Losing her was an emotional blow, but it also forced me to confront a hard reality: the career path I had chosen at the time would no longer provide the financial stability I needed to support myself and build the future I envisioned.

I had to make a choice — stay the course and struggle, or pivot into something that could provide both security and opportunity. That’s when I discovered real estate.

What began as a way to survive quickly became a passion. I immersed myself in learning everything I could — from wholesaling distressed properties to understanding renovations and deal structuring. Over time, I realized real estate could be more than just a career; it could be a tool for generational wealth and a way to help others facing their own financial hardships.

That’s how Black Girls Buy Houses was born — out of both necessity and vision. It became a platform not just for buying properties, but for creating solutions for homeowners in distress and opening doors for people who had been excluded from traditional wealth-building opportunities.

That pivot changed everything for me. What started as a personal lifeline has grown into a business that empowers others to start over, build stability, and create legacies.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

One story that stands out from my journey is when I worked with a homeowner who was deeply underwater on their mortgage and facing the threat of foreclosure. The property needed major repairs, and selling at market value wasn’t an option — the only viable solution was a short sale.

If you’ve ever been involved in a short sale, you know it’s not just a transaction — it’s a marathon of phone calls, paperwork, and negotiations with lenders who often move at a glacial pace. For this homeowner, every delay meant more stress and the looming possibility of losing their home to foreclosure.

I took it personally. I became their advocate, spending hours on hold with the bank, following up on every missing document, and pushing through multiple rounds of back-and-forth negotiations. At one point, the lender’s initial terms would have left the homeowner with nothing, and I refused to accept that. I pushed back, presented evidence of the home’s condition, and made the case for why the bank needed to approve better terms.

After months of persistence — and more than a few moments where it seemed like the deal would fall apart — the short sale was approved. Not only did it stop the foreclosure, but we also secured enough in the terms for the homeowner to cover moving expenses and start over without the crushing weight of mortgage debt.

That experience reinforced what I believe about resilience: it’s not just about pushing through for yourself, it’s about standing firm for others when they can’t fight the battle alone. For me, real estate isn’t just about property — it’s about people, and making sure they have someone in their corner until the very end.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://blackgirlsbuyrealestate.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blackgirlsbuyhouses2/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/therealsunday/