Our newest office — Cleveland! — is now open. And Lauren’s ready to help people find their hometowns.
Lauren Lake has spent most of her life in the Cleveland suburbs. When she was just eight years old, her family moved from Massachusetts to the beautiful town of Chagrin Falls.
“I’m very grateful for that upbringing,” Lauren says.
After meeting her husband, the two settled in Berea, just 30 miles from where she’d grown up.
“Berea is an adorable little town. It has walking trails, a community pool, a brand new playground and is actually a college town for Baldwin Wallace University Students. It’s about 15 minutes from Cleveland International Airport and home of the Cleveland Browns training facility,” she says.
Searching suburbia — again!
Lauren and her husband loved their tight-knit community in Berea, but as their family started growing, they knew it was time for a bigger space.
“We had two of our three children and kind of grew out of that house,” she says. “One of our key factors about where we were looking was that we really wanted to be close to our families.”
Lauren and her husband, along with their three kids and golden retriever, Lucy, now live in Olmsted Township. It’s close to both sets of grandparents and only 20 minutes from the city of Cleveland.
“You have the big city amenities in this small town,” Lauren says.
Olmsted Township has been perfect for her family, Lauren explains. Not only have the schools been an ideal fit, but her family loves the local youth sports scene. Plus, they have a built-in friend group right in their neighborhood.
“We love living here,” she says. “It’s safe and has a strong sense of community. My kids go out and play with their friends in the neighborhood and have wiffle ball tournaments in the backyard. That’s what we wanted. It’s old school.”
Shining a spotlight on the Cleveland suburbs
Lauren has worked on the administrative side of Suburban Jungle for years. Once Suburban Jungle expanded into Cleveland, she was thrilled to move into her new role as the city’s first Strategist — and, with that, introduce everyone to the place she calls “home.”
“There is so much in Cleveland that people don’t know about,” she says. “This is a great opportunity to share all the beauty of the area — especially the suburbs.”
From art museums to nightlife to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Cleveland has a ton to offer for young professionals, families and empty-nesters.
“We have the nation’s largest performing arts center second to New York,” Lauren says. “Beyond Playhouse Square we have three amazing professional sports organizations with the Cleveland Browns, Cleveland Cavaliers and the Cleveland Guardians. And that brings a lot of life and activity and vibrancy and pride to the city.”
An active family, Lauren and her crew are out and about all year long — and during the summer, you’ll find them out on the lake or enjoying local parks and playgrounds.
“We have the Cleveland Metroparks system,” she says, “which offers hundreds of acres of parks and outdoor recreation all throughout the suburbs and downtown.”
A fast-growing market
But the entertainment options are just part of the draw. The city also offers some great employment opportunities. Cleveland boasts world-renowned hospital systems like the Cleveland Clinic and University Hospitals and is headquarters for companies like American Greeting Cards, Sherwin Williams and Vitamix.
“There’s so much culture, life, and opportunity here,” Lauren says.
Helping clients discover the Cleveland suburbs
After working with Suburban Jungle for so many years, and experiencing an out-of-state move herself, Lauren knows how important it is to understand exactly what her clients are looking for.
“Do you want to be close to the city? Do you want to be close to highway access? What else is important to your family — and your lifestyle?” Lauren says. “We want to get to know you so that we can use our expertise and give you great advice on what locations to explore.”
While moving can be stressful, Lauren wants to help make it as easy as possible.
“We want this to be a really positive experience for you. Because that’s what it should be. It should be exciting. It should be fun,” she says.
Are the suburbs calling your name? We’re here to help! Reach out today to get connected with one of our Strategists.