Today we’d like to introduce you to Lauren McLaughlin.
Hi Lauren, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
My career has always been rooted in real estate, but the path has taken a few different turns. I started in traditional residential real estate, helping people buy and sell homes, and eventually moved into new construction, where I worked in sales for multiple home builders, including Pulte.
After spending years on the sales side of real estate, I realized how much I enjoyed helping people navigate the process of finding a place that actually fit their lifestyle—not just selling them a property. That eventually led me to apartment locating, and I became part of Nashville Apartment Locators, a local real estate brokerage that helps renters find apartments throughout the Nashville area.
Around the same time, I started creating content about Nashville. What began as a way to connect with potential clients quickly grew into something I genuinely loved. I started sharing apartment tours, Nashville neighborhoods, restaurants, new businesses, and things to do around the city. I especially wanted to show the side of Nashville that exists beyond Broadway and the typical tourist experience.
Today, I get to combine all of those things I love—real estate, Nashville, and storytelling. I help people navigate the Nashville rental market while also using social media to introduce people to the city and the lifestyle that comes with living here.
I definitely didn’t have this exact career path mapped out from the beginning. I’ve taken a lot of different turns within real estate, but each one has given me experience that I use today. Looking back, I think those changes ultimately helped me find the combination of work that feels the most like me.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
No, it definitely hasn’t been a completely smooth road. I’ve had a successful career in real estate, but finding the right niche within the industry took some time. I’ve sold traditional residential real estate and worked in new construction sales for multiple builders, and while I learned a lot from those experiences, I found selling homes to be very stressful.
Working with different builders also meant moving between different communities and locations, which could make maintaining a consistent work/life balance challenging. I knew I wanted to stay in real estate, but I also wanted to find a role that gave me more flexibility and allowed me to focus on the parts of the industry I enjoyed most.
It took experiencing those different sides of real estate to realize that apartment locating was a great fit for me. Now, being part of Nashville Apartment Locators allows me to continue doing what I love about real estate—working with people, learning the market, and helping clients find the right fit—while having more flexibility in my day-to-day life.
I think the biggest lesson has been that finding the right career path doesn’t always happen immediately. Sometimes it takes trying different opportunities within your industry to figure out exactly where you thrive.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I’m a real estate agent with Nashville Apartment Locators, where I specialize in helping people find apartments in the Nashville area. Because I’ve worked in traditional residential real estate and sold new construction for multiple builders, I have a broad understanding of the Nashville real estate market and what goes into finding the right home.
I’ve also built a presence on social media focused on Nashville, where I share apartment tours, neighborhoods, restaurants, new businesses, and things to do around the city. I’ve really enjoyed combining my real estate background with my love of Nashville and storytelling.
What I think sets me apart is that I’m not just familiar with apartments—I actually know Nashville. I’m constantly exploring different neighborhoods and keeping up with what’s new, and I’m able to give clients perspective on what it’s like to live in different areas, not just which apartment has the nicest amenities.
I’m most proud of the relationships I’ve built through my work and content. Moving to a new city and finding a place to live can feel overwhelming, and I love being able to make that process easier while also helping people feel more connected to Nashville.
I’m also proud that I’ve been able to create a career that combines the things I genuinely enjoy: real estate, connecting with people, and showcasing Nashville.
What were you like growing up?
I was actually pretty shy growing up. I was very into sports and extremely competitive, though, and I loved having something to work toward and pushing myself to be better.
Looking back, I think that competitive side of my personality has helped me a lot in my career. Real estate is competitive, and I’ve always been motivated by setting goals, challenging myself, and finding ways to improve. Sports also taught me a lot about discipline, consistency, and not giving up when things don’t go your way.
It’s funny because I’m much more comfortable putting myself out there now, especially because social media has become such a big part of my work, but that definitely wasn’t always my personality. I think the shy and competitive parts of me have both stayed with me—I’ve just learned how to use them differently over the years.
Pricing:
- Free service – I’m compensated by the apartment communities when I bring a client
Contact Info:
- Instagram: laurenmclaughlinhomes
