This one always makes me laugh a little because I avoided becoming a real estate agent for as long as I could. Real estate runs deep in my family, and I knew it was something I’d eventually need to understand, but I wanted to carve my own path first. I spent years exploring different industries, creative projects, and community work, trying to see how far I could go on my own terms.
Eventually, I realized that real estate wasn’t just “the family business." It was also a powerful way to serve people, build generational wealth, and stay rooted in the communities I care about.
Although I initially became an agent to support my family’s work, it’s become something much more; it's a career I’m shaping on my own terms, with my own voice, values, and network.
I’ve worked in healthcare, politics, community building, communications, and nonprofit leadership, and each field has given me skills that directly apply to real estate.
Back in 2018, I ran for District 4 Supervisor at age 30. I knocked on thousands of doors in the Sunset and got a crash course in San Francisco politics and what truly matters to people in their neighborhoods. After that, I served as Director of Government and Community Affairs at a local nonprofit, where I learned how to navigate complex systems, build relationships across sectors, and advocate for underserved communities.
On the technical side, I’ve taught myself podcasting, video editing, and digital tools because I believe agents need to be storytellers, not just salespeople. We’re entering an AI-driven era, and I’ve been actively exploring how to integrate AI into my workflow so I can stay ahead of the curve as well as understand its limitations.
I’ve also managed cross-functional teams, worked with people of all ages and backgrounds, and spent over a decade refining my social skills. Believe me, they didn’t come naturally at first, but that’s how I learned to meet people where they are, build trust, and really listen.
Lastly, I’m a strong reader and communicator. I’m not a lawyer, but I’ve worked closely with attorneys on contracts, legislation, and policy, and I’m not intimidated by legal language. I know where my lane is, but I also know how to collaborate effectively.
All of that (hopefully) adds up to a real estate agent who brings emotional intelligence, technical literacy, policy fluency, and deep local roots to the table.
For now, I’m focused on San Francisco - especially the Westside neighborhoods like the Sunset District, where I’ve lived for many years and built strong relationships through my work in community organizing and politics.
My mom is a realtor in Santa Clara County, and my family has experience with properties throughout California, so I see potential to expand my reach over time. But right now, my priority is getting grounded here in SF and building deep, hyperlocal expertise.
I may be newer to the real estate industry. Still, I’ve spent my entire career earning people’s trust, often in high-stakes, high-pressure environments where relationships and follow-through mattered more than anything.
I bring deep persistence, a high standard of execution, and a history of showing up for people across sectors - from politics to nonprofit leadership to community-based work. I’m a bit of a perfectionist, and I’ve always tried to go above and beyond for the people I serve.
What also sets me apart is my network. Over the past several years, I’ve built strong working relationships across the SF Bay Area and beyond, including LA, Sacramento, and DC. I know how to connect people, resources, and opportunities in ways that often fall outside the usual real estate playbook.
That said, I don’t claim to know everything yet. But I am fully committed to becoming the kind of agent people can call when they’re overwhelmed, unsure, or ready to make a big life move. That’s the agent I’m building into: trustworthy, knowledgeable, and outcome-driven.
I’ve lived in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Sacramento, Baltimore, and Washington, D.C. I currently live in the Sunset District of San Francisco.
I studied Dietetics at UC Berkeley (Class of 2009), completed my dietetic internship at UCSF (Class of 2011), and earned my Master’s in Public Health from Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health (Class of 2013).
I speak Mandarin and Spanish at an elementary level, which is usually enough to connect, listen, and continue improving as I work with multilingual communities.
Beyond safety, I look for proximity to essential amenities like grocery stores, restaurants, public transit, and walkable services. I also like to choose a neighborhood that has easy access to major roads or highways.
I’m also drawn to areas that are close to landmarks like the Golden Gate Bridge, Ocean Beach, or the Sunset Dunes Park, places that make San Francisco feel like home.
Most of all, I pay attention to the people. I want to live in a neighborhood where relationships feel natural, not forced. I value communities that grow through shared experiences, not performative friendliness.
I would choose to live in the Sunset District of San Francisco because it’s where I feel most connected. My grandparents lived here in the 1980s and got involved in real estate before I was born. My parents and I even lived for a time in one of the homes my grandmother purchased on 29th and Taraval. That home was sold when I moved to the East Coast, but my uncle still lives in another Sunset home she bought, and I’ve been living in the Sunset myself for the past eight years.
So much of my story is tied to this neighborhood. In my twenties, I trained for marathons in the Avenues, studied dietetics at UCSF, built community at Sunset Church, and navigated relationships, heartbreak, and unexpected detours. In my thirties, I came back. I worked for the District 4 Supervisor, ran for office, joined a nonprofit with deep roots here, and bought a home in the Sunset where I live with my husband and three cats. I still remain active in the community today.
It’s also just a stunning part of the city with close proximity to Golden Gate Park, Ocean Beach, and the kind of quiet but deep magic that shows up in the fog and the sun.
The Sunset isn’t just where I live; it’s where I became who I am, and where I’m still growing into who I want to be. That’s also why I chose it as the foundation for my podcast, the Sunset Connection. Like me, the Sunset is evolving, and in many ways, we’re evolving together.
When I’m not working, I’m probably at home with my husband and our three cats, juggling a few creative projects such as podcasting, artwork, or helping run his woodworking business.
Otherwise, you might find me somewhere in the Sunset, walking or jogging through the Outer Avenues.
That’s a big question! Some people say the purpose of life is to figure out why you were born. There’s a quote by Mark Twain that I think says it best:
“The two most important days in your life are the day you’re born, and the day you find out why.”
It might take a long time to figure out what your “why” is, and that’s okay. I’m still on that journey myself. But I’ve seen other people discover their purpose in all kinds of ways, and that gives me hope that I’ll find mine too.
I’m inspired by people who’ve built something meaningful and consistent over time, especially those who’ve done it quietly and with discipline.
One person who unexpectedly became a source of inspiration is Jason Chan. Back when I was running for office, I’d see his signature notepads and signs everywhere around the Sunset. I even kept getting mailers from him that were always addressed to “Ryan Lum” or “Current Resident.” It drove me a little nuts that he didn’t seem to know who actually lived there.
I used to joke to my husband that Jason was my “arch nemesis,” long before I ever considered a career in real estate.
Years later, when I entered the industry and realized just how dominant he is in the Sunset market, my husband couldn’t stop laughing. The rivalry I joked about had actually become real.
Now, with full respect, Jason’s success pushes me to level up. He’s built his career from the ground up and is super successful now. And that's inspiring.
I guess the strangest thing on my bucket list is to take a boat out to the Farallon Islands. I’ve always been mystified by those jagged rocks off the coast, once called the “Devil’s Teeth” by sailors passing the west side of San Francisco.
I’d love to see what the Sunset District and the city look like from out there. I’ve heard the islands are full of birds and marine wildlife, and it would be incredible to spot a whale or other ocean creatures in their natural habitat. There's something haunting and beautiful about that edge of the world, and I’ve always wanted to experience it up close.
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