Edward P. Eichler's real estate career included senior positions with several firms, including the presidency of Levitt Corp., and of his own company, Eichler Corp., which pioneered an innovative approach to lending money to existing apartment complexes. He served as chairman of the California Governor’s Commission on Housing and director of the New Communities project at the University of California, Berkeley. A strong interest in the academic world led to visiting professorships at UC Berkeley, San Francisco State College and Columbia University.