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

After some long-distance dating, Josh Kaufmann and Jennifer Gates lived together briefly in Indianapolis before moving to Mr. Kaufmann’s native Chicago in 2020. The couple, who married in 2022, were renting a two-bedroom in the South Loop, just outside downtown, but knew it was temporary.

“I wanted some floors and spaces where we could do our own things and not necessarily feel like we’re on top of each other,” said Mrs. Kaufmann, 42, a lead coach with Chicago Public Schools. Their opportunity arrived when their landlord announced that he would be selling their apartment.

They considered buying it, but figured they would want more space when they eventually had a child. “You really can’t predict those things,” said Mr. Kaufmann, 52, a regional executive director of the nonprofit Teach Plus Illinois.

Predictably or not, the couple learned they were expecting shortly after they started house hunting early this year. “That shifted us into higher gear,” Mrs. Kaufmann said.

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With a budget of around $650,000 and a summer move-out deadline looming, the couple found their way to Chuck Gullett, a managing broker with Best Chicago Properties, who helped them narrow down locations and home types.

“Their scope was very broad, kind of the most broad I’ve experienced,” Mr. Gullett said. They were open to a condominium, a townhouse or a detached single-family home — almost anywhere in the city — as long as it was a good fit.

They wanted at least three bedrooms, including an office space for Mrs. Kaufmann, who works from home; some outdoor space for their dogs, David Rose and Stevie Budd (named for the “Schitt’s Creek” characters); and a nice kitchen.

“We probably spent every weekend for about two months looking at places,” Mr. Kaufmann said.

Among their options:

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