Lauren French
Written by Elizabeth McCabe | Photos by Nested Tours
Every successful real estate career begins somewhere, but few begin with advice from a fourth grader.
“You are so good at selling stuff. Why don’t you sell houses?”
That was the question that Lauren French’s fourth-grade son asked her nine years ago while they were riding bikes through their neighborhood. She took her son’s advice to heart and it changed her trajectory, opening up a new chapter of her life.
Prior to earning her license, Lauren worked for Urban Decay Cosmetics, part of the L'Oréal family. "I traveled all over the nation doing training and events," she reflects. "It was a lot of fun." The role allowed her to combine her love of sales with building relationships, something that continues to drive her today. "I like feeling like I can help someone find something they really love," Lauren says.
“I like feeling trusted and filling a need,” Lauren says. “When you love the product you're selling and truly understand it, you can share that with other people and make them feel good.”
Whether she was helping someone prepare for a wedding with the perfect cosmetics or helping a family find the perfect home, Lauren discovered that people aren't simply buying products. They're investing in their future.
“I find it easy to talk to people when I'm genuinely trying to help them,” she says. “Having a good story and believing in the product you're telling people about helps, too.”
Seeing the Story Behind Every Home
Lauren’s career truly took off when she made a key transition: shifting brokerages and stepping into a world where home building was about understanding structure, craftsmanship, and the life built inside those walls. Working alongside a co-owner who rehabilitated properties, Lauren dove headfirst into the hands-on realities of construction.
"He trusted me with things I probably wasn't equipped to be doing at the time, but I just had to figure it out," she recalls with a smile. "I loved every minute of it."
That immersion into the nuts and bolts of home building ignited a passion for properties with character. While her heart originally belonged to historic homes, a visit to a broker open in the early days of the Wheeler District shifted her perspective completely. At the time, the development was just getting off the ground, barely more than a few homes on a single street. Yet, Lauren immediately recognized something rare.
"They were new, but they had the soul and character of the old homes I love," she says. "You could tell the designers and builders were incredibly intentional. I just knew this place was going to turn into something phenomenal."
An Interview to Remember
When the Director of Sales position opened up for the Wheeler District, Lauren knew she had to go for it. What followed was an unexpected job interview with a twist.
Gathered inside a model home with the small team behind Wheeler District, Lauren was in the middle of pitching her candidacy when she noticed someone peeking through the window, clearly curious to see the house. Without missing a beat, Lauren stopped the interview, opened the door, invited the strangers in, and gave them a full, spontaneous tour on the spot.
"We still joke about it today," Lauren laughs. "Back in my cosmetic days with L'Oréal, they used to send in secret shoppers, so I honestly thought they had set the whole thing up to test me! And they thought I had set it up to showcase my skills. It turned out to be a completely random person, but it proved just how naturally the job came to me."
Needless to say, she got the position.
Lauren believes one of her greatest strengths is becoming an expert on what she represents.
“I know the ins and outs,” she explains. “I know how these homes are built. I know they have Pella windows, geothermal heating and air, and I know the future of the neighborhood. I know the 'why' behind everything.”
That knowledge gives buyers confidence, especially in new construction.
“New construction is interesting because your clients have to trust you,” she explains. “You're describing building processes, floor plans, and features that can be a lot to digest. I understand that, so I take the time to educate people.”
Introducing People to a Lifestyle
Lauren doesn't simply introduce buyers to a house. She introduces them to an entire lifestyle.
People often discover Wheeler District before they ever begin searching for a specific home. They come for the farmers’ markets, restaurants, concerts, coffee shops, taco stands, a brewery, trails, or the iconic Ferris wheel overlooking the Oklahoma River. They get to experience something new to the city: neighbors gathering on front porches while children ride scooters through the streets. What they find is a true sense of community. They appreciate the safe, narrow streets. Residents can walk to dinner, grab a coffee or craft beer, explore the bike trail that follows the old airport runway, or spend an afternoon at one of the community's multiple playgrounds. It's the kind of neighborhood where people know one another, linger outside, and genuinely enjoy life together.
Then they decide they want to live there. “People find Wheeler first,” Lauren says. “Then they find the house.” For Lauren, that's what makes her work so rewarding. “I represent more than the homes,” she says. “I represent the community. I couldn't see myself anywhere else.”
The Art of "White Glove" Service
Positioning homes in such a unique, tight-knit market requires an intentional approach. Lauren treats every transaction with what they call "white glove service," aiming to eliminate the stress and guesswork for sellers.
“Rarely am I working with a buyer for the traditional 30 days. It can be anywhere from a few months to the typical buildout time of nine to 12 months. I have worked with some clients that I met three or four years prior to their actual purchase. With that being said, relationships are important,” says Lauren.
Instead of delivering a high-pressure sales pitch, Lauren provides clients with a comprehensive overview of the selling process so they know exactly what to expect. She is also a strong believer in "listing shows," where the listing agent personally conducts the showing rather than simply unlocking the door. By walking buyers and agents through the home herself, Lauren can highlight architectural details, answer questions in real time, and showcase not only the property's features but also the lifestyle and community that make it special.
Surprisingly, there are a lot of people who have never visited Wheeler District before. They might just think they are looking at a home in a regular neighborhood, so it’s important to share all that Wheeler has to offer. “I typically invite them to spend time in the community, whether it is an evening walk through the community, dinner at Taco Nation, or Friday night at the farmers’ market. I guarantee you will meet neighbors and most likely make a new friend,” says Lauren.
"I am a firm believer in word of mouth. Where we work, it is like a small town and word gets around quickly. If you serve a neighbor well, the other neighbors will see that and want to work with you too.”
Looking Ahead
With Wheeler District currently entering Phase Four of an anticipated ten-phase development, Lauren is excited about the future. She expects to continue helping shape one of Oklahoma City's most innovative communities for years to come.
When she's away from work, Lauren enjoys spending time with her husband and son, spoiling their three dogs, visiting estate sales with her mother in search of hidden treasures, and restoring her 1939 historic home, a labor of love that always seems to have another project waiting.
Through it all, Lauren has never forgotten the advice that launched her career. Her son saw something in her long before she saw it herself. Today, countless homeowners are grateful she listened.
