Despite living as renters for nearly a decade, Alexandra Andorfer and George Croton’s love for San Francisco never waned. They made the most of their 950-square-foot property and currently house two dogs and two cats in a two-bedroom property just off Buena Vista Park near the Haight-Ashbury neighborhood. I also found a way to expand my family.
But a few years of spending weekends dining and wining with friends in the idyllic Sonoma Valley, about 80 miles north, sparked another possibility. Will the couple be able to leave the city and find enough of what they like in a small town?
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It was partly a matter of background. Andorfer, 33, grew up primarily in big cities (Pittsburgh and Baltimore) and attended college in Chicago, while Croton, 32, was a product of Santa Barbara, Calif., and its rambling atmosphere. . “We have a ‘small city, big town’ thing going on in Santa Barbara,” he said. “Very beautiful, lots of outdoor gear, but also lots of amenities, restaurants, and fun things to do.”
Mr. Croton liked the idea of leaving San Francisco, where the couple met in law school. Their jobs as lawyers were both in the Bay Area, but each allowed them to work from home several days a week, leaving them room to imagine alternative lifestyles. And the Andorfers were a little surprised at how much they were looking forward to their vacation, especially the town of Sonoma, a gourmet paradise of 11,000 residents located in the vibrant heart of Sonoma Valley wine country. .
“I could immediately see myself living there,” she said. “It doesn’t have a city feel, but it has restaurants and culture and a lot of things going on. I love cooking and I’m involved in a lot of wine clubs, including several in the area. .”
It was Mr. Andorfer who suggested we go to several open houses in Sonoma. “It’s just for fun,” she said. Croton added a wrinkle when he proposed including Marin County, about 30 miles south of Sonoma, a coveted county with a rural feel and upscale amenities.
At an open house in Marin County, the couple met Kristen Perry, an agent on the Christy Martinelli team at Coldwell Banker and a former executive at several high-tech startups.
“It’s always interesting when people leave a city,” Perry said. “Some people take a very long time to actually be ready to move. But once Alex and George realized they were pretty sure of it, they acted very quickly.”
The couple searched open houses for weeks, looking for a place with an airy feel and unique architecture. They wanted to be within walking distance of shops and services, just like in San Francisco, and they wanted access to a large yard or park for their pets.
With down payment help from Croton’s mother, the budget was set at $1.35 million.
Among their options are:
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