Meet Simmie Cooper of Camden Homes

Today we’d like to introduce you to Simmie Cooper.

Simmie, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I was born and raised in Johannesburg, South Africa. After graduating from King David High school I immigrated to Los Angeles to join the rest of my family who had made the move earlier that year due to the increasing unrest in South Africa. The year was 1976 and we were among the first of many families to leave South Africa due to apartheid.

I graduated from USC with an accounting degree but after working for a CPA firm in Beverly Hills for 6 months it soon became very apparent that being a CPA was not a good fit for me. I was very restless and learned I was not a “desk job” kind of person and needed more of a challenge then crunching numbers all day. No offense to all you accountants out there!

I quit the firm and in desperation to find a job to support myself I got a job laying wood floors. The universe works in mysterious ways because little did I know this was the catalyst on how I found my way and became a Home Builder. After laying wood floors for several months I got a job with a Home Builder in Thousand Oaks as an assistant superintendent and quickly worked my way up to superintendent. I learned the ropes literally from the ground up and eventually got my contractors license and began building homes myself.

In 1989 I moved to Dallas to take advantage of the Savings and Loan failures and was one of the founders of a company that accumulated a large portfolio of industrial and office properties but I did not abandon my passion for Home Building. I formed Cooper Homes soon after which brought a contemporary, modern Cali-cool style home to the Dallas market and over its 20-year span specialized in high-end custom homes with a contemporary, modern design.

In 1998 I formed Camden Homes with a partner specializing in entry-level homes that catered to the first time homebuyers as well as doing our own horizontal development creating buildable lots. Last year Camden built 350 homes in the DFW Metroplex and we have projections to doubling that for 2018.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
There have been many challenges throughout my career. The biggest challenge was the economy’s recession in 2008. I was sitting on a $6.5 million dollar spec home for many months after its completion in Preston Hollow that Cooper Homes built and was on the brink of taking a big loss, as well as inventory in the Camden portfolio with multiple lots, finished homes and partially built homes without buyers…

Fortunately, we made it through that rough patch as many others in the same boat were not as lucky. I do believe in creating your own “luck”… to maximize every opportunity so when I learned Shawn Marion was being traded to the Mavs I knew I had a potential buyer for my spec home and reached out immediately which led to the sale of the spec soon after.

Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Camden Homes – what should we know?
I am devoting all my energy now to Camden Homes which has exciting growth potential, therefore Cooper Homes just completed its final custom build job. Camden is a unique company as we have special in-house leasing and financing options that enable people that cannot qualify to get a conventional loan the opportunity of owning a home. We are very proud that Camden Homes is changing lives helping our customers achieve the “American Dream”.

We have exceptional core values and feel teamwork makes the dream work and strive for our company to always do the right thing and deliver a positive experience to our customers. Camden also works very hard in creating a healthy work environment for its staff with team building activities, daily huddles per department and its own cultural committee that plan monthly events all to incorporate a positive workplace… “A strong positive attitude will create more miracles than any wonder drug”~ Patricia Neal.

What role has luck (good luck or bad luck) played in your life and business?
I feel that being in the right place at the right time definitely has its merit, but I believe you make your own luck.

Have a vision or goal and take the moment of opportunity and sprint with it down the finish line. Being persistent, never giving up and working hard in making your vision a reality.

Contact Info:

• Address: Camden Homes 9400 North Central Expressway
  #475 Dallas TX 95231
• Website: www.camden-homes.com
• Phone: 972 -479-8888
• Email: simmie@camden-homes.com
• Facebook: @newcamdenhomes
• Other: www.micasitahomes.com

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