Actor Bailey Chase Cites Housing Affordability in Permanent Move to North Carolina
Actor Bailey Chase has detailed his family's relocation from Los Angeles to Hendersonville, North Carolina, noting that their current residence features amenities that would have been financially out of reach in the California market. As Realtor.com reports, the move was accelerated by pandemic-era school mandates and a desire for a lower cost of living.
Context from Industry Pulse
The departure of talent from Los Angeles highlights a growing tension between industry proximity and residential affordability. While California remains a primary hub for production, the high cost of entry for family-sized homes with premium amenities is pushing professionals toward secondary markets like Nashville and western North Carolina. As Realtor.com documented through multiple accounts, even established actors find themselves priced out of preferred neighborhoods or unable to secure the acreage and privacy desired for their families. This geographic shift is often triggered by specific local policy changes or a desire for a slower pace of life, suggesting that the traditional requirement to reside in the entertainment capital is being weighed against the purchasing power of other regions.
The migration of high-profile entertainment professionals away from traditional California hubs continues as actors prioritize residential space and lower overhead. Bailey Chase, known for roles in Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Homestead, recently explained that his family transitioned to the Blue Ridge Mountains to secure a lifestyle that was unattainable in Los Angeles. According to reporting from Realtor.com, the actor and his wife moved their three children to Hendersonville, a town located roughly 25 miles south of Asheville.
The decision to leave the West Coast was influenced by several factors, including the local school environment during the pandemic. Chase noted that the final straw for the family occurred when vaccine mandates were implemented for students, which prompted the household to pick up stakes and head east. While the move required giving up the long-held dream of living in Los Angeles, the family has integrated into the wife’s hometown, which they had previously considered a potential destination.
From a real estate perspective, the move allowed the family to acquire a property equipped with a pool and a sports court. Chase indicated to Realtor.com that such a home would not have been affordable within the Los Angeles market. The new location provides significantly better proximity to daily necessities, with the actor noting that the children’s school, grocery stores, and athletic facilities are all located within a seven-minute radius of their residence.
This shift reflects a broader trend of industry talent seeking relief from Southern California’s pricing. Other actors, such as Jana Kramer, have expressed similar frustrations regarding the inability to find suitable backyards or larger homes in neighborhoods like Studio City. For Chase, the transition has allowed him to balance a filming schedule in Utah with a primary residence that offers more space for his children and pets in a less congested mountain setting.
The Industry Pulse Bottom Line
Bailey Chase’s relocation underscores how regional price disparities drive even affluent professionals toward secondary markets. When California’s cost of living intersects with lifestyle mandates, high-value properties in the Southeast become increasingly attractive alternatives.