Culture shock and long-distance commutes are bringing former Bay Area residents back, only to find the most brutal housing market in years. 

A woman with long brown hair wears a dark shirt and silver jewelry, standing outdoors with pine trees and a blue sky in the background.

Emily Caruso and her husband moved from Hayes Valley to Lake Tahoe during the pandemic. Now they, like many others, are on the hunt for housing so they can return. | Source: Alejandra Rubio for The Standard

Published Aug. 9, 2026at6:00am