They Wanted a House in Chicago for Their Growing Family. Would $650,000 Be Enough?

After some long-distance relationship, Josh Kaufmann and Jennifer Gates lived collectively briefly in Indianapolis earlier than transferring to Mr. Kaufmann’s native Chicago in 2020. The couple, who married in 2022, have been renting a two-bedroom within the South Loop, simply exterior downtown, however knew it was short-term.

“I needed some flooring and areas the place we may do our personal issues and never essentially really feel like we’re on high of one another,” mentioned Mrs. Kaufmann, 42, a lead coach with Chicago Public Colleges. Their alternative arrived when their landlord introduced that he can be promoting their house.

They thought of shopping for it, however figured they’d need more room once they ultimately had a baby. “You actually can’t predict these issues,” mentioned Mr. Kaufmann, 52, a regional government director of the nonprofit Train Plus Illinois.

Predictably or not, the couple realized they have been anticipating shortly after they began home looking early this 12 months. “That shifted us into greater gear,” Mrs. Kaufmann mentioned.

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With a finances of round $650,000 and a summer time move-out deadline looming, the couple discovered their solution to Chuck Gullett, a managing dealer with Finest Chicago Properties, who helped them slim down areas and residential sorts.

“Their scope was very broad, type of essentially the most broad I’ve skilled,” Mr. Gullett mentioned. They have been open to a condominium, a townhouse or a indifferent single-family house — virtually anyplace within the metropolis — so long as it was a superb match.

They needed at the least three bedrooms, together with an workplace area for Mrs. Kaufmann, who works from house; some outside area for his or her canines, David Rose and Stevie Budd (named for the “Schitt’s Creek” characters); and a pleasant kitchen.

“We most likely spent each weekend for about two months locations,” Mr. Kaufmann mentioned.

Amongst their choices:

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