‘Homestead’ Actor Bailey Chase Reveals the ‘Final Straw’ That Inspired a Move to a North Carolina Home That Wouldn’t Have Been ‘Affordable’ in L.A.

“Homestead” actor Bailey Chase is one of the many celebrities who have quit Los Angeles in pursuit of a slower pace, and he has recently opened up about his family’s decision-making process.

The “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” alum, 54, moved to North Carolina five years ago with his wife, Amy, 50, daughter Waverly, 12, and twins Maggie and Gauge, 10.

In a Nov. 2 interview with Fox News Digital, Chase explained that the cross-country move came in “the throes of COVID.”

“My wife and I picked up sticks with our three young children when they were mandating vaccines out there,” he said. “They couldn’t go back to school without it, and that was the final straw. And we’ve been in the mountains of North Carolina ever since, living our best life.”

Although Chase’s work schedule keeps him busy—and he films “Homestead” on an estate in North Salt Lake, UT—the father of three said keeping up with his children is his priority.

“I love my job, and when I’m off filming, I’m 100% focused on that. But when I’m home, I’m home. There’s no greater job than being a dad,” he said.

Chase’s kids are enrolled in a slate of activities that he was excited to discuss.

“I’m like soccer dad right now. It’s soccer season, so we’re going here and there,” he shared. “My oldest is really into ballet, and I couldn’t be more proud of her and getting ready for ‘The Nutcracker’ in December, and basketball season’s around the corner.”

The family currently resides in Amy’s hometown of Hendersonville, NC—a move they always knew was in the cards. The town is in the Blue Ridge Mountains, located 25 miles south of Asheville.

“Amy, being from the mountains of North Carolina, always had it in the back of her mind that she’d go back home one day,” the actor told Duke Magazine in January 2026.

After experiencing a series of shifts following the pandemic, Chase said “it became more and more obvious that we should leave L.A.”

Chase appreciates his new home’s proximity to everything his family needs, and said it’s “about seven minutes away” from “school, the in-laws, the grocery store, golf course,” and the “soccer field.”

“We live in a house that would not have been affordable in L.A.,” he said. ”It’s a kid’s dream. There’s a sports court and a pool. We have two golden retriever puppies, so it’s a full and lively house.”

Chase admitted that it was a “hard decision” to leave California behind and “give up” on the “dream” of living in Los Angeles.

“But we haven’t looked back,” he explained.

In an Aug. 12 Instagram post celebrating his daughter’s first day of seventh grade, Chase shared some reflections on his family’s daily life, noting that he had “taken some time away from social media” and “even passed on some work” to “focus on his family.”

“The great news is we created lifelong memories going on vacations and just being present,” he wrote. “Our oldest started school today and the twins have been back for a few weeks. We also had dear friends and family in town but now shift into our routines of school, practice, home and repeat.”

Alongside a photo of himself posed with his daughter on a sports field, he added, “I’m loving this chapter of life and know it will fly by, so doing my best to enjoy every moment before work calls again.”

Chase is not the only actor who has recently opened up about quitting Los Angeles in pursuit of a less-expensive life somewhere else.

"One Tree Hill" alum Jana Kramer recently recalled her struggle to find a suitable property for her family while residing in California, before ultimately deciding to move to Nashville in 2019.

"I remember being in Studio City with the two kids, and we couldn't afford to have a bigger place with a bigger backyard and neighborhoods like that," she told Fox News Digital. "Again, we just couldn't afford certain neighborhoods, and for me, Tennessee has just always been a place that every time I land, my nervous system just like relaxes, it feels calm."