With aspirations to become a lawyer, Eva Pawlus chose to study finance, a natural decision as her mother was a math teacher. “Since I wanted to go into law and present arguments for clients and I had math in my blood, I ended up doing both in lending,” Pawlus shares. “Now I present arguments for my clients in front of underwriters instead of a jury.” Purchasing her first condo at age 24 when she worked as a processor, she learned so much during her own transaction that she wanted to help other homebuyers by becoming a loan officer. “I may not be saving lives but I’m a part of the biggest purchase in people’s lives,” she points out. “There is a lot of happiness that comes with homeownership.”

A consistent top producer who moved to Wintrust Mortgage last year, Pawlus specializes in conventional, jumbo, non-warrantable condos and doctor loans in all 50 states. She says there is not a scenario she hasn’t seen during her 21 years in the industry, with her first decade spent working as a broker and the second with large retail banks like Chase and Bank of America. Pawlus enjoys working with clients on complicated transactions, making sure their lending goals are met and they are getting the best options. “I treat my clients like family and always want to do what’s best for them,” she shares. Pawlus says she loves meeting new people through work and often ends up becoming friends with her clients and referral partners.

A ballroom dancer since age 7, Pawlus loves dancing and music. “Music is my therapy,” she observes. “Last year I’ve learned through my personal experience that health is truly the most important thing we have in life,” she admits. “I am trying to take better care of myself by living more balanced and healthier lifestyle.”

Pawlus also enjoys playing pickleball and is an avid volunteer at pet shelters, helping with vet expenses and rehoming homeless animals at various pet rescue organizations.