From New York to Lamorinda: Why I Chose to Raise My Family in East Bay California

Judy Sin
1 day ago
6 min read

An Interview with Judy Sin, Realtor & East Coast Transplant

專訪灣區房地產經紀 Judy Sin

Judy Sin with her husband and two children at their daughter's middle school graduation ceremony in Moraga—celebrating a proud milestone as a family in their East Bay journey.

Q: Judy, you spent over a decade in New York before relocating. What led to the move to California?

A: We lived in New York City for seven years, then another seven years in Long Island. While we had built a life there, we always knew it wasn't our forever home. My husband grew up in Cupertino, and we wanted our kids to grow up closer to extended family. That was a big part of the decision — giving them a deeper connection to their roots.

We also felt California offered more of what we valued as a family: better weather, more diversity, amazing Asian food, and proximity to some of the best public colleges in the country. Culturally, it felt like a better fit — and a place where we could see our kids thriving long-term. So we sold our house in Long Island at the end of 2019 and made the move to Lamorinda just before the pandemic began.

問：Judy，你在紐約生活了十四年，為什麼後來決定搬到加州？

**答：**我老公是在加州 Cupertino 長大的，我們一直都希望孩子能夠更常和家人相處，建立深一點的家庭連結。後來我們也發現，加州在很多方面都更符合我們對生活的期待：天氣好、亞洲文化濃厚、美食選擇多，而且本地有很多優質的大學資源。

所以在 2019 年底，我們把長島的房子賣了，搬來東灣 Lamorinda。剛好就在疫情爆發前，算是命運的安排。

Q: Why Lamorinda? What made it stand out?

A: We looked at so many areas — Danville, Alamo, Mission San Jose in Fremont, Cupertino, Saratoga — all strong options with great schools. But Lamorinda gave us something different. The homes were often newer or more spacious for the price, and the neighborhoods had a quieter, more residential feel. A lot of properties had flat lots, big yards, and single-level layouts — perfect for raising kids.

It also felt calmer — less dense, but still so accessible. We weren’t just choosing a house; we were choosing a whole environment.

問：當時你們有考慮其他地區嗎？為什麼最後選擇 Lamorinda？

**答：**有啊，我們真的看了很多地方，包括 Danville、Alamo、Fremont（Mission San Jose）、Cupertino 和 Saratoga，這些地方的學區也都很好。

但最後是 Lamorinda 給我們最完整的生活品質：房子大，地坪寬敞，多是單層設計，適合有小孩的家庭。街區安靜、環境舒服，而且通勤到舊金山也不遠，不論是開車還是搭 BART 都很方便。

Q: What were your top priorities when deciding where to live?

A: Four main things:

School quality – We were laser-focused on public school performance. Lamorinda schools aren’t just high-ranked; they’re consistently strong across all levels — elementary through high school.
Commute to San Francisco – My husband works in Embarcadero, so easy access to BART and freeway mattered. From Lafayette or Orinda, SF is surprisingly reachable.
Sense of Community – Lamorinda has this small-town vibe where families know each other. People say hi. Kids ride bikes after school. That energy was important to us.
Value – Compared to South Bay towns with similar school districts, Lamorinda gave us more house for the budget. It wasn’t just a smart investment — it felt like a lifestyle upgrade.

問：你們在選擇住家地點時，最在意哪些條件？

**答：**主要有四個：

公立學校品質：我們非常重視教育。Lamorinda 的學校不只排名高，而且從小學一路到高中都很穩定，讓我們很放心。
通勤便利性：我老公在舊金山 Embarcadero 上班，所以交通是一定要考量的。Orinda 和 Lafayette 都有 BART 站，上下班時間可以掌控。
社區氛圍：Lamorinda 的社區感非常強，鄰里互動熱絡、活動多，小朋友之間也容易建立友誼，這點對家庭生活非常加分。
房產性價比：和南灣那些熱門地區相比，Lamorinda 能夠用差不多的預算，買到更大的空間、更好的屋況，整體居住體驗也更舒服。

Q: What advice would you give families who are considering moving to Lamorinda?

A: Come tour the area with no pressure. Drive through the neighborhoods, take in the scenery — it’s beautiful. So many homes are single-story modern farmhouses with indoor-outdoor living, perfect for entertaining and family life. Lamorinda really is golden — it’s one of the closest areas to San Francisco where you can still get big lots, great schools, and space to breathe.

Also, join some of the local Facebook community groups. You’ll get a feel for what people care about — schools, local events, restaurant recs. It’s a great way to understand the vibe.

And speaking of food — definitely check out Postino, Canyon Club Brewery, Hideout Kitchen, and more. For a quiet town, the dining scene is really impressive!

問：對於正在考慮搬來 Lamorinda 的家庭，你有什麼建議嗎？

**答：**我會建議親自來走一趟，不要只看網上的數據或排名。開車在社區內逛逛、感受一下氛圍，會很不一樣。

這裡的房子很多是現代農舍風格，有很棒的 indoor-outdoor living 空間，視野好又有隱私。附近也有不少好餐廳，例如 Postino、Canyon Club Brewery 和 Hideout Kitchen，生活品質真的很不錯。

另外，也可以加入一些本地的 Facebook 社團，看看社區居民在討論什麼，很快就能了解這裡的文化和節奏。

Q: Was it hard starting over in California, both personally and professionally?

A: It was a huge leap. I had built a professional network in New York, and leaving that behind was scary. I was starting from zero — no connections, no clients. But California welcomed me with open arms. I focused on serving people well, sharing my journey online, and building trust one conversation at a time.

What helped was being able to speak Cantonese and Mandarin. Many of my clients are first-time buyers or families moving from out of state or overseas — and being able to explain everything clearly in their native language makes a big difference. It builds confidence and comfort.

Now, I help others navigate the same transition we made — and I can do it with empathy, strategy, and firsthand experience.

問：搬來加州之後要重新建立事業，會不會很困難？

**答：**當然有壓力。畢竟在紐約我已經累積了一定的客戶和人脈，搬來加州等於一切歸零。但我一直相信，只要真心對待每一位客戶，服務做到位，就會有人願意相信你。

我也靠著社群媒體分享自己的生活與工作方式，讓更多人知道我是誰、我怎麼工作。加上我能說廣東話和普通話，對許多從海外或其他地區搬來的華人家庭來說，是一種安心感。他們知道我懂他們的文化，也能夠清楚解釋整個購屋流程。

Q: Looking back, do you feel like you made the right choice for your family?

A: 100%. My son just graduated elementary school, and my daughter just graduated middle school — both of them have nothing but great things to say about their schools, their coaches, and the many friends they’ve made here. That alone reassures me we made the right move.

They’ve grown up with space to run, a community that cares, and an environment that supports their learning and wellbeing. As a parent, that’s everything. I’m so excited for what lies ahead for them — and I’m deeply grateful that Lamorinda became our home.

問：現在你女兒剛從國中畢業，兒子剛從小學畢業，他們喜歡在這裡的生活嗎？

**答：**非常喜歡。他們對學校、老師、教練都充滿感謝，也交了很多好朋友。身為媽媽，我真的很開心看到他們在這裡健康快樂地成長。

對我們來說，Lamorinda 不只是買房的選擇，更是為家人打造一個新生活的開始。這裡讓我們真正找到了家的感覺。