After some long-distance relationship, Josh Kaufmann and Jennifer Gates lived collectively briefly in Indianapolis earlier than shifting to Mr. Kaufmann’s native Chicago in 2020. The couple, who married in 2022, had been renting a two-bedroom within the South Loop, simply exterior downtown, however knew it was non permanent.
“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 Faculties. Their alternative arrived when their landlord introduced that he can be promoting their condo.
They thought of shopping for it, however figured they might need extra space after they finally had a toddler. “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 discovered they had been anticipating shortly after they began home searching early this yr. “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 method to Chuck Gullett, a managing dealer with Finest Chicago Properties, who helped them slim down places and residential varieties.
“Their scope was very broad, form of essentially the most broad I’ve skilled,” Mr. Gullett mentioned. They had been open to a condominium, a townhouse or a indifferent single-family residence — nearly anyplace within the metropolis — so long as it was a great match.
They needed no less than three bedrooms, together with an workplace area for Mr. Kaufmann, who works from residence; 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 in all probability spent each weekend for about two months locations,” Mr. Kaufmann mentioned.
Amongst their choices:
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