After some long-distance courting, 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 short-term.
“I wished some flooring and areas the place we might 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 could be promoting their residence.
They thought of shopping for it, however figured they might need extra space once they finally had a toddler. “You actually can’t predict these issues,” mentioned Mr. Kaufmann, 52, a regional govt director of the nonprofit Educate Plus Illinois.
Predictably or not, the couple realized they had been anticipating shortly after they began home looking early this yr. “That shifted us into greater gear,” Mrs. Kaufmann mentioned.
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With a price range of round $650,000 and a summer time move-out deadline looming, the couple discovered their approach to Chuck Gullett, a managing dealer with Greatest Chicago Properties, who helped them slender down places and residential varieties.
“Their scope was very broad, sort 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 — virtually wherever within the metropolis — so long as it was a great match.
They wished no less than three bedrooms, together with an workplace house for Mrs. Kaufmann, who works from residence; some outside house for his or her canine, 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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