Jemi Khan is a globetrotter of sorts, having lived in Dhaka, Bangladesh, the United States, and Australia. Her global cultural experiences have shaped her into the unique person she is today, allowing her to bring the best of her experiences to her life and career. While Jemi has lived on three different continents in three distinct cultures, she has never felt more at home than she does in Dallas.

Jemi has been profoundly shaped by her past. She was born and raised in Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh and the sixth-largest city in the world. Her father had a dream of a better life in the US, so he moved to Florida in the mid-’90s to lay the foundation, leaving his two daughters and wife back home in Bangladesh. 

Things were looking up for Jemi and her family. Her father’s business was going well, and her immigration paperwork was nearly processed. And then, tragedy struck. Jemi’s father was killed during a late-night robbery.

“I was really young at the time. I remember his body was brought back home to Bangladesh, and thank god our processing went through,” Jemi reflects. “So me and my sister, who is four years older than me, were able to come [to the United States].”

Jemi, just 12 years old, had never before stepped foot in the US. Her mother stayed back in Bangladesh while Jemi and her sister went to live with family on Long Island.

“I was so young, and I had a vacant brain at the time,” Jemi recalls. “For my sister, she had a bigger grasp of what was happening. We were in a new location, a new culture, but I was just going with the flow. All the bad things didn't touch me because my sister shielded me. She basically became my guardian.”

Jemi eventually followed her sister to Dallas. She would later spend a five-year stint in Australia, but Dallas became her true home.

“Everything just lined up for me in Dallas. There is so much space here in Texas. My family is here now. My friends are here. It’s become home.”

Professionally, Jemi took an early liking to sales. Before launching her real estate career in 2013, she worked in retail sales.

“When the market had a big shift around 2008, everybody was getting laid off. I personally wanted to get a piece of Texas at that time and was able to get a house, the first house I bought in Texas,” Jemi reflects. “During that process, I realized I wanted to help facilitate home buying and selling for others.”

It took another five years for Jemi to get her license and launch her career. Once she did, she knew she had found her calling. 

Fast forward ten years, and she is one of North Dallas’ top agents. As a solo agent with OnDemand Realty, Jemi closed 70 transactions for over $24 million in 2022 (rentals and sales combined). 

Jemi’s diverse cultural background is one of her greatest assets, allowing her to connect with people from various walks of life. She also leans into the values she learned growing up in Bangladesh. Her work ethic is second to none.

“I don't chase transactions. I chase the relationship. I don't spend a single dollar on marketing. Every client comes in via word of mouth,” Jemi says. “And I work a crazy amount of hours. I have stamina. When my child was born, the day I was in the hospital giving birth, I worked that day. After I was released, I went to a closing. That is one of my strengths. My other strength is my family. I have a massive support system.”

Jemi and her husband, Obaidullah Al Obedi, have a nearly three-year-old son, Tawab Al Obedi. They enjoy taking vacations, traveling back to Bangladesh, and giving back to charity. They spend most of their three weeks per year in Bangladesh serving at a local orphanage. Jemi also has a passion for food and cooking.

From Bangladesh across an ocean to Dallas, Jemi has lived a varied life that has shaped her into the person she’s become. She’s seen and experienced a lot — good and bad — and that’s left her with a sense of deep gratitude for the life she now lives.

“I am so grateful for my current circumstances, everything together — my family, my financial stability,” Jemi says. “Before, I didn't have anything. Now, I own multiple properties. I have a good family, a great husband and kid, and my clients have become like family. I appreciate everything.”