Meet the Team

Meet Hillary

Since joining Village Associates in 2014 I have helped hundreds of clients buy and sell all types of homes - from luxury estates to starter homes to fixer uppers to townhomes. I love my job and where I live, and I thrive on helping people through the process of buying or selling homes. Clients and colleagues will tell you I am a straightforward communicator, strong negotiator, that I offer unwavering honesty, and am attuned to the details and timelines of every sale.

I am fortunate to partner with my mother-in-law Karen, who has been a tremendous collaborator and mentor. We truly enjoy working together and our teamwork benefits clients in practical ways every day. After being with Village for seven years, I achieved Partner status in 2021.

Prior to real estate, I worked in for 12 years in various marketing and public relations roles for tech start-ups and Fortune 500 companies in New York and San Francisco. I have a degree in Economics from UC Santa Barbara and I studied Economics & Management at Oxford University in England.

Before moving to Orinda, my husband Brian and I lived in San Francisco and enjoyed everything about city life. To be honest, I was very reluctant to move "through the tunnel". But once we made the move, I quickly found out what is so special about our "semi-rural" pocket of the East Bay; the easy proximity to the city, warm weather, safe surroundings, beautiful setting and excellent schools are just a few reasons we love it here. But mostly it’s the people - through our kids' schools, activities, community and of course through work, we have developed fantastic new friendships and neighborhood traditions, and our children have too.

We now have a 7th grader and a 3rd grader in Orinda schools, and I spend my free time volunteering with the Del Rey Parent's Club, golfing or hiking with friends, skiing with my kids and planning our next family adventure. If you aren't familiar with the Lamorinda area, I would be delighted to show you the town that I love.

PHONE

(415) 309-5061

[email protected]

LICENSE NUMBER

CA DRE 01967218

ADDRESS

93 Moraga Way, #103, Orinda, CA 94563

Meet Karen

I have lived in Lamorinda for 40 years and have worked in real estate since 1994. In the year 2000, along with a handful of top colleagues, I co-founded Village Associates, which is now the leading independently owned brokerage in Lamorinda. I am known by clients and colleagues for local knowledge, calm leadership, and ability to bring people together. I have guided hundreds of clients through buying and selling homes in Lamorinda and surrounding communities, and I was thrilled when my daughter-in-law Hillary wanted to team up and join me in business in 2014. We have been having fun selling real estate together ever since. We love working with everyone from first time buyers to retirees and estates.

My professional background is in finance. Prior to real estate, I was a tax CPA with Arthur Andersen. I graduated from Stanford University and hold an MBA from UC Berkeley's Haas School of Business. While my sons Ben and Brian were young, I served two terms as President of the Orinda Union School Board; I was on the Board of EFO (the Educational Foundation of Orinda), served as co-president of Del Rey and Miramonte Parents' Clubs and on the board of the Miramonte Boosters Club. My husband Tim and I love being part of the Lamorinda community. We now live in Lafayette and have 6 grandchildren in both Orinda and Dallas, TX.

PHONE

(925) 788-6322

[email protected]

LICENSE NUMBER

CA DRE 00699318

ADDRESS

93 Moraga Way, #103, Orinda, CA 94563

Team Ethos

Building Lasting Relationships

Some clients take just days to purchase or sell their homes; others take more time to study the market and make their move. That's alright with us. We view every client relationship as long term. Most people we work with are repeat clients who initially came through a word-of-mouth referral, and many are friends long after their move is complete.
Offer Boutique Service

We prefer to work with just a few clients at a time so that everyone receives excellent personal service and the details are buttoned up. When you hire the Murphy Team, you can expect our hands on involvement every step of the way. And if we have a conflict of interest, we will be honest about that and refer you on to another excellent Village agent.
Simplify The Selling Process: Maximum Price For Minimal Effort

Selling your home can be emotional, and it's a lot of work getting ready to move. We will help you focus on the things that are going to maximize the price you get for your home, while minimizing the workload. We'll bring in excellent, cost-effective service providers and stagers, and can schedule and supervise the work. Then comes smart pricing, stunning photography and marketing, high-visibility open houses and constant communication with the local agent network. We will help you select the best offer, and negotiate the strongest contract, and usher everything through closing. Because of our well developed network, we are often able to sell homes "off market" if that is your wish.
A No Pressure Approach To Buying

We will never try to convince you that a property is right for you. After seeing enough homes, you'll know the perfect fit when you see it. Our job is to help you understand the market and point out the best opportunities, so that when the right house comes up, you're ready to make a winning offer. Then the strategic work begins - we'll guide you through inspections, smart negotiations and all elements of closing. We also have access to many listings before they are available to the public.
Our Reputation Impacts Your Success

In the competitive East Bay market, it is important to hire a respected agent that agents across offices want to work with. We are well known for honest dealing, delivering on our promises and completing transactions on time. We have roots in Lamorinda and we work hard maintain strong relationships with other agents that ultimately benefit our clients.
Integrity

It should go without saying that we value honesty above all. If we don't know something, we aren't afraid to admit it and help you find the answer. If the answer isn't what you want to hear, we'll say it anyway. After all, this relationship is 100% based on trust so we can't run our business any other way.

Testimonials

Karen and Hillary are the only Realtors® you want if you’re thinking of buying or selling your house in Lamorinda. They know the area intimately which is a big help. They managed to sell our house in record time, a week!
— Victoria
Hillary Murphy is an outstanding Realtor®. She is responsive, helpful, patient, and encouraging. She provides support when going through transactions and helps you understand the process. We have used Hillary for 2 sales and 2 purchases and would highly recommend her.
— Meghan L.
We were so lucky to work with Hillary in the purchase of our first home. Hillary went above and beyond in assisting us every step of the way. This market wasn't easy to navigate but with Hillary's knowledge and expertise, we landed the perfect home for our family and couldn't be happier!
— Carlee D.

VIEW ALL

Meet Hillary

Hillary Murphy

Meet Karen

Karen Murphy

Team Ethos

Building Lasting Relationships

Offer Boutique Service

Simplify The Selling Process: Maximum Price For Minimal Effort

A No Pressure Approach To Buying

Our Reputation Impacts Your Success

Integrity

Testimonials

Our Portfolio

4174 Canyon Rd

$5,375,000

663 Glenside Dr

$4,100,000

10 Gardiner Ct

$3,580,000

212 Camino Sobrante

$3,500,000

Find Your Dream Home

Work With Us

Follow Us on Instagram

Meet the Team

Meet Hillary

Hillary Murphy

Meet Karen

Karen Murphy

Team Ethos

Building Lasting Relationships

Offer Boutique Service

Simplify The Selling Process: Maximum Price For Minimal Effort

A No Pressure Approach To Buying

Our Reputation Impacts Your Success

Integrity

Testimonials

Our Portfolio

4174 Canyon Rd

$5,375,000

663 Glenside Dr

$4,100,000

10 Gardiner Ct

$3,580,000

212 Camino Sobrante

$3,500,000

Find Your Dream Home

Work With Us

Follow Us on Instagram

The Murphy Team

Hillary Murphy

Karen Murphy

Submit a Message