What can I afford? A family in need of more space considers their options for upgrading
Space is a precious commodity in New York City, particularly for the parents of young children, and as families grow it can be a major hurdle to find (and afford) the room to accommodate them. Samantha (whose name we've changed to protect her privacy) and her husband, the parents of a four-year-old and a one-year-old, currently own a two-bedroom, one-bath co-op on the Upper East Side , and are wondering whether it's time to move to a larger home. "We are unsure about the prospect of our next move and whether it would be worth it to move to a rental or buy again, considering the increase in space we need," Samantha says. The couple would ideally like to find a three- bedroom apartment close to a park, in a building with a live-in super or doorman, though a two-bedroom with a separate dining room could work, too. Because of their children, they prefer a building with an elevator, or a first-floor apartment; transit-wise, they're looking for a commute to their job...