Lauren Essl

My real estate career officially began in 2021, but the spark was lit in 2016 when my husband, Travis, and I took on the remodel of our first home. Breathing new life into older spaces quickly became a passion—and it was that hands-on experience that led me to a career I now love. Today, I bring that same passion to my clients, guiding them through the buying and selling process with empathy, insight, and enthusiasm. Whether it's educating first time home buyers, offering a listening ear, or celebrating with high-fives and hugs when we find the perfect home, it’s a true privilege to be part of each client’s journey.

I approach every transaction with a calm, attentive, and highly personalized mindset. Every transaction is unique, and I treat it as such. A strong communicator and careful listener, I make it a priority to understand each client’s needs, goals, and concerns. I’m detail-oriented by nature, and above all, I strive to reduce stress wherever possible. Buying or selling a home is a major life moment, and I’m here to make it feel a little less overwhelming—and a lot more empowering.

Originally from Texas and a lifelong lover of the arts, I earned my degree in International Studies of Arts & Culture and Communication from Texas A&M University. Before real estate, I spent over a decade running a successful graphic design and calligraphy business—teaching workshops nationwide and online. In 2017, Travis and I leapt at the chance to move to Seattle, embracing all the creativity, culture, and adventure the Pacific Northwest has to offer.

Now rooted in Madrona with our two beloved rescue dogs, Gertrude and Millicent, I spend my free time exploring the beautiful PNW (snacking and sipping along the way), relaxing by the water, and volunteering with Seattle Humane. I have a deep love for animals, gardening, Beyoncé, New Orleans and Bravo TV. 

It's so nice to meet you.

★★★★★
"Lauren is the best. She presented the sale of my condominium unit on Capitol Hill in Seattle. Her understanding of the scene, level of attention to the process, and depth of marketing effort was top level, more than I ever experienced or imagined. The building is oh so charming and old, but with a tough set of pending capital costs ahead, none of that spooked Lauren, she charged ahead and made the most of it. We had a qualified buyer in just a few weeks and closed on schedule. I would definitely have her as my agent again and recommend her services to you. " - James

★★★★★"Lauren recently helped me with my first home purchase and I couldn't have asked for a better experience. As a first-time homebuyer, it's so important to have a good agent who you trust and understands your needs. Lauren was so helpful and communicative throughout the whole process and handled most of the communication between third parties such as listing agents, HOAs, and contractors. She was always so prompt and organized, making the process so smooth and easy. She was always able to answer any questions I had, and if she didn't know the answer she was able to connect me with someone who would know. I highly recommend her to anyone who is looking in the Seattle area!" -Erin

★★★★★
"We absolutely loved working with Lauren, especially as first time home buyers! Our first call with Lauren left such a wonderful impression. She was kind, patient, and asked so many great questions to help us start the process. Throughout our whole home buying journey, Lauren was always communicative, responsive, and provided so many resources to make sure we felt prepared once we finally put an offer on our now home. Even after we closed, we've stayed in touch with Lauren and she's always willing to help! If you're looking for a realtor with so much knowledge, care and someone who's an absolute joy to work with, we highly recommend Lauren! We would absolutely work with her again and we are so grateful for her support through our first home buying process! " - Danielle

★★★★★
"Working with Lauren on the purchase of our Seattle home was absolutely wonderful. She met us where we were and made sure we fully understood the process before diving in, which ensured there were no surprises we weren't prepared for. Lauren went above and beyond to get us every detail of the home we needed to feel confident putting in a competitive offer. Her knowledge of the market, communication, and negotiation skills are unmatched, and I sincerely appreciated how she always showed up with the brightest outlook. I'm immensely grateful for our time working together, we found our perfect home. Thank you Lauren! " - Courtney.

★★★★★
"We had a fantastic experience working with Lauren on the purchase of our home! As first time home buyers, we had a lot of questions and Lauren was great about explaining things and guiding us through the process. She was very communicative, friendly and just a pleasure to work with. We're so grateful for her help through this process and would highly recommend to others. " - Kaitlyn

★★★★★
"If I could give Lauren more than 5 stars, I would! She helped my husband and I buy a new home and sell our townhome in under two months and made us feel at ease during the process. An amazing communicator, super knowledgeable about buying and selling homes and fun to work with, Lauren is wonderful at what she does! " - McKenzie


★★★★★
"Lauren helped my wife and I find and purchase our first home! She was so incredibly patient and supportive and was able to answer every question we had as we learned about the home buying process. She is dedicated, kind, knowledgeable, and bent over backwards to meet our needs. I can’t say enough positive things about her! She was truly the perfect fit for us and helped us find the perfect home for us. " - Leah


★★★★★
"My partner and I were first time homebuyers when we started working with Lauren. She was not only extremely mindful of our inexperience in the real estate world , but she also came prepared with resources and guiding language to help us understand the scope of work that needed to be done.
Lauren is very well acquainted with Seattle and the surrounding area and made sure to provide useful information on the neighborhood and places of interest near houses we liked. She collected our priorities for not just the property itself, but also for the community where we were looking. For instance, she knew we prioritized supporting local restaurants and small businesses was important for us so she always highlighted charming cafes or lovely shops around the property we were viewing.
As most homeowners will tell you, the buying journey is a difficult and emotional experience but we felt so supported by Lauren and the team she recommended for us during the entire process and could not be happier with our new home. Her sense of urgency was very much appreciated and she made it known that her clients came first. I wholeheartedly recommend Lauren to any new or experienced homebuyer! " - Kaitlyn


★★★★★
"Lauren helped us buy our first home and it was a wonderful and smooth experience! Lauren is extremely responsive, knowledgable, and proactive. " - Chaya