Two San Francisco tenants fled the city for a quieter life. Would they find it in Sonoma or Marin?

Almost a decade as tenants have not diminished Alexandra Andorfer and George Croton’s love for San Francisco. They made the most of their 950 square feet and even found ways to expand their family — now with two dogs and two cats — in their two-bedroom home just off Buena Vista Park, near the Haight-Ashbury neighborhood.

But several years spent eating and wineing on weekends with friends in the idyllic Sonoma Valley, about 50 miles north, inspired them to consider another possibility: Could the couple leave the city and find enough of what they wanted in a small town loved about it?

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It was partly a question of background. While Ms. Andorfer, 33, grew up largely in big cities (Pittsburgh and Baltimore) and attended college in Chicago, Mr. Croton, 32, was a product of Santa Barbara, Calif., and its sprawling atmosphere. “Santa Barbara has this ‘small town, big city’ thing going on,” he said. “It’s very nice, there’s a lot of outdoor things to do, but also a lot of amenities and restaurants and great things to do.”

Mr. Croton was more enthusiastic about the idea of ​​leaving San Francisco, where the couple had met while in law school. Both had jobs as lawyers in the Bay Area, although each could telecommute several days a week, which left room to imagine a different way of life. And Ms. Andorfer was somewhat surprised to realize how much she was looking forward to her trips, especially to the city of Sonoma, a foodie paradise of 11,000 people in the beating heart of the Sonoma Valley wine country.

“I could very quickly imagine myself living there,” she said. “There’s no big city flair here, but there are restaurants and culture – there’s a lot going on. I love cooking and am involved in a number of wine clubs, including several right in the area.”

It was Ms. Andorfer who suggested attending some open houses in Sonoma — “just for fun,” she said. Mr. Croton added a wrinkle when he suggested including Marin County, about 30 miles south of Sonoma, with its coveted combination of rural feel and upscale amenities.

At an open house in Marin County, the couple met Kristen Perry, an agent on the Kristie Martinelli team at Coldwell Banker who previously held executive roles at several technology startups.

“It’s always interesting when people leave town,” Ms. Perry said. “Some take a very long time until they are actually ready for occupancy. But Alex and George reacted very quickly when they realized they were pretty sure.”

The couple explored open houses for weeks, looking for a place with an airy feel and distinctive architecture. They hoped to be within walking distance of shops and services like those in San Francisco and wanted either a large garden or park access for their pets.

With the help of a down payment from Mr. Croton’s mother, they limited their budget to $1.35 million.

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