Raising the Bar

Lauren Forbes embraces life with passion while blazing a successful path through the South Bay real estate scene.

Homeowner. Empty nester. Newlywed. Dog Mom. Yogi. These words describe Realtor^® Lauren Forbes, but they don’t even scratch the surface of this multifaceted entrepreneur.

Lauren is a top-producing real estate agent and CEO/founder of the Lauren Forbes Group at Compass. A founding agent of the firm’s South Bay office, she has built a powerhouse team of four Realtors and two full-time assistants. They have topped over $1 billion in sales—thanks to Lauren’s expertise and the power of Compass’ technology—and earned this year’s #1 ranking by client testimonials on Zillow in Manhattan Beach and Hermosa Beach. They’re also ranked as the #1 Small Team in Manhattan Beach by RealTrends.

“We handle the sale and lease of homes across all price points, primarily in the South Bay, and our expertise ranges from first-time homebuyers to luxury listings and everything in between,” she says. “Our team is incredibly diverse in both age and interests, but what unites us is our strong work ethic and deep commitment to our clients. The fact that we genuinely like each other makes working together both enjoyable and exciting.”

Lauren is proud to be a success at work while wearing many hats during her leisure hours. She is an active volunteer for various charitable boards and a divorce support group at American Martyrs Parish. She is also a grateful member of Al-Anon and a sponsor for others in the program.

“In today’s fast-paced, ever-evolving industry, staying centered requires focus and dedication.”

A licensed/inactive attorney, Lauren practiced at a large litigation firm for eight years after graduating from Loyola Law School. She transitioned from law to real estate in 2000 to achieve a more flexible schedule and be closer to home while raising her two young children.

Lauren is an avid reader, devouring books for business, pleasure and personal growth—both on her own and with the book club she’s been a member of for more than two decades. Two of her all-time favorite nonfictions are Never Split the Difference by Chris Voss and The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz.

She creates balance in her life through mind-body activities like hot yoga, hiking and skiing, ice plunges, meditation, and long walks on The Strand with friends to help her connect and unwind. “I believe that my commitment to personal and spiritual growth greatly enhances my effectiveness and consistency in business. In today’s fast-paced, ever-evolving industry, staying centered requires focus and dedication.”

Lauren is the first to acknowledge how important moderation is when working a career that comes with long hours—often early in the morning, late at night and on weekends. “After years of hard work to build the perfect team and streamline our process, I’ve finally found a healthy work-life balance,” she says.

She prioritizes spending precious moments with loved ones. Her two grown children, Megan and Logan, are thriving in their lives in New York, and she cherishes staying connected to them and seeing them as often as possible.

Lauren and her husband, Sean, enjoy traveling—they recently indulged in a two-week honeymoon—and also spending time at their Hermosa Beach home with their furry companion, Cody, who “brings endless love and joy to our family,” she smiles.

It’s no surprise that moving forward, Lauren aims to continue embracing these personal experiences without sacrificing her tireless dedication to her work. “My priority is guiding my clients to make the best possible decisions for themselves and their families,” she says. “I always act with their best interests in mind.”