“The first step is to clarify what affordable housing is, how it works, and who is eligible,” Laughton says. “It is a struggle for many people in their 20s to qualify for a new home. Housing should be made affordable for all age groups, especially first-time home buyers. Also, there are many unused buildings in inner cities and commercial districts that can be rezoned and changed into residential properties, allowing every city to find solutions.
Laughton has spent her life “drawing, designing, and standing in the dirt working on construction-related projects.” By the time she was 14, she already was drawing buildings to scale, or “hand drafting.” In college, she studied architecture, landscape architecture, and interior design. After working for prestigious NYC architecture firms, she moved back to Southern California to start her own business.
The greatest challenge Laughton has faced in her career was adding licensed general contractor to her extensive list of professional services. “I was constantly questioned about who I was, what I knew, and if I really had what it took to make it in the male-dominated industry of construction,” she explains. “There was both skepticism and wonderment.
But Laughton proved her worth, harnessing her experience, knowledge, and talents to create a seamless, organized home construction process for her clients. “I am known for getting things done and protecting the client from pitfalls that, like potholes on the road, you want to drive around and not through. It gives me a lot of joy and satisfaction to turn projects into success stories,” she says.way to tap into your life purpose, Laughton advises, is to start with analyzing what you are good at.