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Baltimore RE full circle

Baltimore RE full circle

26 Years of Real Estate Lessons: Buying, Holding & Weathering the Storms with Chris Lawson

Sep 3, 2026 · 35 min · 9 segments

In this episode of Baltimore RE Full Circle, I sit down with Baltimore native and longtime real estate investor Chris Lawson to talk about his 26-year journey building a portfolio across Baltimore…

In this episode of Baltimore RE Full Circle, I sit down with Baltimore native and longtime real estate investor Chris Lawson to talk about his 26-year journey building a portfolio across Baltimore, Washington, D.C., and Delaware. Chris shares how a decision he made at 17 to pursue real estate eventually led to his first four-unit property in Washington, D.C., which became the foundation for everything he owns today. He takes us through his evolution from that first purchase to 42 doors, including his return to Baltimore and his work providing housing for people transitioning from homelessness. <...

In this episode of Baltimore RE Full Circle, I sit down with Baltimore native and longtime real estate investor Chris Lawson to talk about his 26-year journey building a portfolio across Baltimore…

Speakers: Chris LawsonGuestAmy BonitzHost

Top entities: Baltimore×33 Morgan State University×7 Delaware×10 Washington×30 Capitol Hill×4

Show signals: SuitabilitySafeBiasNot politicalAudience≈2 followers

Family, Retirement, and Investing Pace14:51 – 19:52

C

Chris LawsonGuest

14:51

2010 I got married and I had children and you know they become your biggest investment.

C

Chris LawsonGuest

15:00

Your family becomes your biggest investment.

C

Chris LawsonGuest

15:02

So without the family I'd have a lot more.

C

Chris LawsonGuest

15:05

With the family I have an abundant life.

C

Chris LawsonGuest

15:07

I'm good.

C

Chris LawsonGuest

15:08

I'm good.

C

Chris LawsonGuest

15:09

Well, that's a good

A

15:11

reason to slow down.

A

15:12

You have to slow.

A

15:13

Yeah, you have to.

A

15:14

My question was trying to figure out if there's anything real estate related that maybe I know.

A

15:20

Like, for example, I was actually doing calls today and I was talking to this owner that bought a few properties and they were saying they bought one or two and then they had a lawyer that messed them up.

A

15:30

and then they had another agent that messed them up.

A

15:33

And now they're just into these properties too much, they have too much maintenance.

A

15:36

And see, usually when I see an owner slow down, it's because they're nervous and they're having bad experiences.

A

15:43

It's not common where I hear someone say, well, I need to take care of my family, so I'm gonna prioritize them over property.

A

15:50

So that that's, you know, it's amazing.

A

15:52

You're able to do

C

Chris LawsonGuest

15:53

that.

C

Chris LawsonGuest

15:53

Every property that I've ever purchased has a story.

C

Chris LawsonGuest

15:57

Um, they've all needed a lot of maintenance.

C

Chris LawsonGuest

16:00

They've all needed a lot of TLC I'll say.

C

Chris LawsonGuest

16:03

So, A couple of things that had me measure my pace.

C

Chris LawsonGuest

16:07

My goal was to buy, in the beginning, one property every three years.

C

Chris LawsonGuest

16:10

I mean, you hear YouTube stories about, I'm going to buy one every month and 12 a year.

BaltimoreCityCity in Maryland
98%33 mentions
Morgan State UniversityCollege or UniversityPublic university in Baltimore, Maryland
94%7 mentions
DelawareAdministrative AreaUS state
91%10 mentions
WashingtonCityCapital of the United States of America
87%30 mentions
Capitol HillLandmarkNeighborhood in Washington, D.C., United States
83%4 mentions
Real propertyEntity
80%1 mention
LaurelCityCity in Maryland
76%2 mentions
Form W-2Entity
72%2 mentions
University of Colorado BoulderCollege or UniversityPublic university in Boulder, Colorado
69%1 mention
MarylandAdministrative AreaUS state
65%3 mentions
RichmondCityCity in Virginia
59%3 mentions
VirginiaAdministrative AreaUS state
59%3 mentions
FloridaAdministrative AreaUS state
54%2 mentions
BoulderCityCity in Colorado
50%1 mention
United StatesCountryCountry in North America
46%1 mention
ColoradoAdministrative AreaUS state
43%1 mention
Federal Highway AdministrationGovernment OrganizationGovernment agency
39%1 mention
ColumbusCityCity in Ohio
30%1 mention
HawaiiAdministrative AreaUS state
30%1 mention
OhioAdministrative AreaUS state
30%1 mention
PennsylvaniaAdministrative AreaUS state
30%1 mention
CamdenCityTown in Delaware
19%1 mention
DoverCityCity in Delaware
19%1 mention
Board of estimateOrganization
13%1 mention
New YorkCityCity in New York State
9%1 mention
YouTubeWebsiteVideo sharing company
6%1 mention
United States Department of TransportationGovernment OrganizationGovernment department
2%1 mention

Residential Rental PropertyReal Estate > Real Estate Investing
Investment Property FinancingFinance > Real Estate Finance
Small Multifamily PropertiesReal Estate > Real Estate Investing > Residential Rental Property
Rental Housing OperationsReal Estate > Property Management
Refinancing and Equity ExtractionFinance > Real Estate Finance > Investment Property Financing
Long-Term Buy-and-Hold StrategyReal Estate > Real Estate Investing > Residential Rental Property > Small Multifamily Properties
Adjustable-Rate Loan ResetsFinance > Real Estate Finance > Investment Property Financing > Refinancing and Equity Extraction
Tenant Relations and OccupancyReal Estate > Property Management > Rental Housing Operations
Rent Adjustments in Soft MarketsReal Estate > Property Management > Rental Housing Operations > Tenant Relations and Occupancy
Affordable and Supportive HousingGovernment > Housing Policy
Permanent Housing for Formerly Homeless ResidentsGovernment > Housing Policy > Affordable and Supportive Housing
Public Grants for Multifamily RehabilitationGovernment > Housing Policy > Affordable and Supportive Housing > Permanent Housing for Formerly Homeless Residents
Wealth Building and Retirement PlanningPersonal Development > Financial Planning
Family-Centered Investment DecisionsPersonal Development > Financial Planning > Wealth Building and Retirement Planning
Succession Planning for Real Estate AssetsPersonal Development > Financial Planning > Wealth Building and Retirement Planning > Family-Centered Investment Decisions
Real Estate FinanceFinance
Housing PolicyGovernment
Real Estate InvestingReal Estate
Personal Development
Financial PlanningPersonal Development
Government
Finance
Real Estate
Property ManagementReal Estate

Family, Retirement, and Investing Pace14:51 – 19:52

C

Chris LawsonGuest

14:51

2010 I got married and I had children and you know they become your biggest investment.

C

Chris LawsonGuest

15:00

Your family becomes your biggest investment.

C

Chris LawsonGuest

15:02

So without the family I'd have a lot more.

C

Chris LawsonGuest

15:05

With the family I have an abundant life.

C

Chris LawsonGuest

15:07

I'm good.

C

Chris LawsonGuest

15:08

I'm good.

C

Chris LawsonGuest

15:09

Well, that's a good

A

15:11

reason to slow down.

A

15:12

You have to slow.

A

15:13

Yeah, you have to.

A

15:14

My question was trying to figure out if there's anything real estate related that maybe I know.

A

15:20

Like, for example, I was actually doing calls today and I was talking to this owner that bought a few properties and they were saying they bought one or two and then they had a lawyer that messed them up.

A

15:30

and then they had another agent that messed them up.

A

15:33

And now they're just into these properties too much, they have too much maintenance.

A

15:36

And see, usually when I see an owner slow down, it's because they're nervous and they're having bad experiences.

A

15:43

It's not common where I hear someone say, well, I need to take care of my family, so I'm gonna prioritize them over property.

A

15:50

So that that's, you know, it's amazing.

A

15:52

You're able to do

C

Chris LawsonGuest

15:53

that.

C

Chris LawsonGuest

15:53

Every property that I've ever purchased has a story.

C

Chris LawsonGuest

15:57

Um, they've all needed a lot of maintenance.

C

Chris LawsonGuest

16:00

They've all needed a lot of TLC I'll say.

C

Chris LawsonGuest

16:03

So, A couple of things that had me measure my pace.

C

Chris LawsonGuest

16:07

My goal was to buy, in the beginning, one property every three years.

C

Chris LawsonGuest

16:10

I mean, you hear YouTube stories about, I'm going to buy one every month and 12 a year.

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