Today we’d like to introduce you to Erin Lokhandwala.
Hi Erin, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I’ve been an avid reader and analyzer since age four, so law school seemed a natural next step with my English and Public Relations background. After spending several years working as assistant counsel for the government in my home state of Pennsylvania, my family of three moved to the Baltimore area in 2015 for my husband’s Pathology fellowship. Once we decided to make Baltimore County our permanent home, my husband and I bought our first rental property.
Shortly after we began investing, our wonderful real estate agent, who has since become a friend, pointed out that as an attorney, I could become a real estate broker in a relatively short time and handle the transactions for myself. I took this agent’s advice and never looked back. I am now a solo attorney specializing in residential real estate transactions, business formation and maintenance, and basic estate planning. I’m in my element when I’m drafting deeds, reviewing details of a purchase contract, or making final edits to a will. I’m also the Broker of Lokhandwala Realty, my own boutique real estate agency. My favorite part of that job is keeping abreast of any legislative changes that impact real estate agents and sharing those updates with my agents during our training meetings.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It’s been an exciting challenge to build my solo law practice, making my presence known to prospective clients and reaching out to fellow attorneys, title companies, and other real estate professionals for business referrals. On the real estate brokerage side, I jumped right into the deep end after passing the Maryland Real Estate Broker Exam. I learned on the job, as I placed offers for my family’s next rental investment and interacted with other agents at the settlement table and continuing education events.
I soon gained the confidence to teach my agents and advise my legal and real estate clients. As an attorney and as a broker, my aim is to learn and improve daily. And as my own boss, I enjoy making my own rules and setting my own schedule. That way, I can take care of business and spend time with my husband and our 11-year-old son.
Do you any memories from childhood that you can share with us?
As an only child, I was fortunate to have the attention of loving parents, grandparents, and great grandparents. They indulged my passion for playing “dress-up” with a whole trunk of hand-me-downs and homemade costumes. In junior high school, they helped me and my friends create an annual Halloween Haunted House that was the talk of our Pennsylvania coal region neighborhood.
More significantly, my family supported my lifelong adoration of Judy Garland and “The Wizard of Oz.” I’ve been an Oz collector and historian since my grandparents gave me my first Dorothy musical trinket in the early 1980s. I also had the pleasure of interviewing five of the last surviving Munchkins from the 1939 film for my university newspaper. It was a highlight of my life to speak with the “Coroner” and one representative of the “Lollipop Guild”!
Reflecting on my career for this article, I realize that the central theme of the Oz story is true for me as well. Making my way as a solo attorney and broker, I’m able to thrive with the encouragement and guidance of colleagues, family and friends. Their support has helped me realize that, all along, I’ve had the brains, heart, and courage to grow my own business. I could always use a pair of ruby slippers, though!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.lokhandwalarealestate.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lokhandwalarealestate/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LokhandwalaRealEstate
- LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/erin-lokhandwala-esq-3094b5134
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@LokhandwalaRealEstate
