Disagreement With Wife..

[Anonymous]

Op.

No elevator is a deal breaker when you have a young child unless you are both on board with it.

Give it up. Focus on finding another place or buy her place.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If both of you wouldn't be happy in the one the other chose, you need to keep looking. You both need to be in agreement and be excited for something like a home purchase.

+1. If she feels that strongly about the stairs that she would rather find a place to rent and keep looking there isn’t any talking her into the condo you like. And similarly if you feel that strongly about having more kitchen space when you do most of the cooking, it doesn’t make sense for you to agree to the elevator condo. It would be better to keep looking and find a condo with an elevator and a larger kitchen and don’t bother look at any that don’t have both.

[Anonymous]

Your pick is way better.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. We currently live in Chicago. I’m from VA but we moved here for my wife. We will here for another 4-5 years at least. We are tired of renting and don’t have any family around. We need to move out of our current place because the building is being sold.

Here are of almost identical ( most condos in Chicago tend to have similar looks/feature because they’re done by the same builder) places that we are considering. I won’t pit the actual address for safety reasons.

Wife’s pick

https://www.redfin.com/IL/Chicago/3914-N-Damen-Ave-60618/unit-201/home/109599049

My pick

https://www.redfin.com/IL/Chicago/5061-N-Lincoln-Ave-60625/unit-201/home/144720311

Those condos look really similar, though I do agree that the kitchen in yours is better along with the outdoor deck space. However, a walk up with a newborn is insanity. Hard no. It shouldn’t even be under consideration. It’s the same level of stupid as buying a convertible to transport your newborn.

[Anonymous]

You really need to keep looking, unfortunately. Every time you cook in a kitchen you don’t like, you will resent her. Every time she lugs a toddler up/down stairs, she will resent you. These are both daily activities.

[Anonymous]

Very similar but as a woman carrying stuff, elevator.

[Anonymous]

I me the cook/chef/baker in my house and 35 cabinets sounds way too big. How large is the triangle in each space? The triangle between the stove, fridge and sink. (You don’t want more than 24feet total )

[Anonymous]

FWIW, we are in a building with a private terrace as you show in your choice on a somewhat busy street. It's really not great to hang out there as we thought. It's been amazing during the pandemic, but only because we can open the door and go out just get feel the relief of being outside, but not for hanging out. DH goes out there with headphones and listens to music and does email. But has to have the headphones. And seriously, it's not that busy of a street outside.

We also have a shared roof deck. I know people go up there and hang out, but it's really only single people.

Renting again isn't the end of the world if as a PP said, each of you resents the other's choice.

[Anonymous]

Didn’t you post before about whether you should just let her pick?

[Anonymous]

No freakin way with steps with a baby.

Do you have any idea how annoying it is to carry a baby up and down stairs??? Every time you go on a stroller walk, get groceries, forget something. You will have to go back for snacks, diapers, milk, birthday gifts. What the hell will you do if you have another kid. How hard it will be to go up and down stairs pregnant with a toddler and then with a toddler plus newborn.

Team wife on stairs. Stairs would be a total dealbreaker for me.

I would keep looking. I would ONLY look for elevators with a baby.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:FWIW, we are in a building with a private terrace as you show in your choice on a somewhat busy street. It's really not great to hang out there as we thought. It's been amazing during the pandemic, but only because we can open the door and go out just get feel the relief of being outside, but not for hanging out. DH goes out there with headphones and listens to music and does email. But has to have the headphones. And seriously, it's not that busy of a street outside.

We also have a shared roof deck. I know people go up there and hang out, but it's really only single people.

Renting again isn't the end of the world if as a PP said, each of you resents the other's choice.

This is city living. I don’t think you can escape it. Most buildings with elevators in Chicago are on busy streets. The deck in the back should be a little quieter but it’s the city.

[Anonymous]

No stairs with a baby. What happens when you have a second child and have to juggle both on the stairs? It’s not going to work.

The smaller kitchen is fine. You can always add storage. Either go with DW’s pick, keep looking, or find another rental.

[Anonymous]

OP here. We went through dozen and really only like these two. I do love her choice too but like mine a little better. She cares more about an elevator, and I care more about a deck. I didn’t think 16 stairs is that much of an issue because we are both fit and active. Maybe an elevator building is the better choice. She will probably end up winning because I will give in.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No stairs with a baby. What happens when you have a second child and have to juggle both on the stairs? It’s not going to work.

The smaller kitchen is fine. You can always add storage. Either go with DW’s pick, keep looking, or find another rental.

+1. His choice has much higher taxes. I think her pick is really nice. I would choose hers.

[Anonymous]

Happy wife, happy life!