Outgrowing Your Home in San Francisco?
A Family Guide to Moving to Marin
Seven Months In: How Moving to Marin Changed Our Family’s Everyday Life
Seven months ago, we moved our family—two kids, pets, and all—out of San Francisco and away from the only home our children had ever known.
Today, life looks very different.
On most afternoons, my kids can walk next door and see who’s around. Before long, there’s a pickup soccer game forming, bikes looping around our cul-de-sac, or a spontaneous plan to head to the beach for a scavenger hunt or good old-fashioned games in the street.
While they play outside on their own, I can make dinner. That still feels remarkable.
This move has given our family something I didn’t fully realize we were missing: freedom with ease. I’m able to give my kids more independence with far less fear around safety concerns. I can drop them off at the community park to meet friends while I run errands or walk the dog. They can walk to the store together, building confidence, communication skills, and independence through everyday experiences.
As a result, screen time has naturally decreased—not because of rules or limits, but because outside time is now spontaneous, doable, and genuinely fun.
And then there’s the weather. Marin has a real summer. Outdoor space actually gets used. Evenings are warm enough for barbecues and outdoor parties without layers, heaters, or bracing against the wind. After years of navigating San Francisco’s famously foggy and windy summers, the difference is noticeable—in how often, and how joyfully, we gather outside.
Just as meaningful, I’ve found community here. I put myself out there, and neighbors and friends have opened their homes—and their hearts—to me and my family. That sense of connection, of kids flowing in and out of houses and adults checking in on one another, has created a rhythm that feels grounding and supportive.
Overall, this move has given us a way of life that feels more peaceful, more intentional, and more satisfying. Not perfect—but deeply aligned.
If This Resonates, You May Be at a Turning Point
As a San Francisco and Marin County realtor, and as the House Therapist, I work with families who are navigating these transitions thoughtfully and intentionally. My approach is rooted in listening first—because real estate decisions are rarely just about homes; they’re about lives, timing, and change.
I hear versions of this every week:
“We love our home… but it doesn’t quite fit us anymore.”
Outgrowing a home isn’t a failure. It’s often a sign that your life has expanded—and your space hasn’t kept up.
I Understand This Transition—Because I’ve Lived It
This isn’t just professional insight. It’s personal.
I understand the excitement that comes with imagining more space and an outdoor lifestyle, alongside the grief of leaving a home filled with memories. I understand the worry about disrupting kids, the logistics of moving pets, and the overwhelm of trying to plan next steps when life already feels full.
Moving from San Francisco to Marin isn’t just a real estate decision. It’s a family transition—and it deserves to be handled with care.
Signs Your Family May Have Outgrown Your San Francisco Home
For families with young children, the signs often show up gradually:
Your home no longer supports how your family lives day to day
Everyone is home more, but there’s less room to spread out
Outdoor time requires planning instead of spontaneity
Storage feels like a constant puzzle
You’re thinking ahead to schools, routines, and long-term quality of life
For many families, this is simply how the idea of change first shows up.
Why So Many Families Are Moving from San Francisco to Marin
When families begin looking north, it’s rarely just about square footage.
They’re often thinking about daily life—what it would feel like to live in family-friendly Marin neighborhoods, where kids can walk or bike to friends’ houses, outdoor time is built into the rhythm of the day, and schools and community play a central role in family life.
Marin offers families room to breathe, while still staying close to the city they love.
The Hardest Part: There’s No Time to Plan When You Have Young Kids
Here’s the reality I see again and again:
When you’re in the thick of raising children, there’s very little mental space to plan a move. Between work, school, activities, and daily logistics, even thinking about next steps can feel overwhelming.
That’s often why families stay stuck longer than they want—not because they don’t want change, but because they don’t know where to begin.
How the House Therapist Helps Families Move with Clarity
As the House Therapist, my role is to help families slow things down and bring clarity to what feels chaotic.
Together, we break the process into manageable, step-by-step pieces:
Clarifying what’s no longer working in your current home
Identifying what you want more of in your next chapter
Exploring Marin neighborhoods through the lens of daily family life
Understanding school options, timelines, and trade-offs
Creating a realistic plan that fits your family and your bandwidth
No rushing. No pressure. Just thoughtful guidance from someone who understands both the logistics and the emotions involved.
Thinking About Moving to Marin? Let’s Talk It Through
If your home is starting to feel too small for the life you’re living, that may be the beginning of a meaningful next chapter—even if you’re not sure what comes next.
If you’d like a space to talk through your next steps, ask questions, or simply think out loud, I’m here as a listening resource and guide.
You’re welcome to get in touch here whenever it feels right.
