They Upsized to a Single-Family House in Brooklyn for Less Than $900,000. But Where?

"When Crissy Spivey bought herself a large one-bedroom, one-bath co-op in Brooklyn's Ditmas Park neighborhood in 2018, she had all the space she needed. Shortly before she closed, she met John Richie, who had just moved to New York from New Orleans. Before long, he joined her in the apartment. The following year, the couple's daughter was born and they transformed the place into a two-bedroom with a small office."

"During the winters, they were joined by Ms. Spivey's mother, Annie Spivey, who lives most of the year in Syracuse, N.Y. Having tripled, and sometimes quadrupled, the population in the apartment, Ms. Spivey and Mr. Richie felt increasingly cramped. They craved more room, another bathroom and even a little outdoor space. I've lived in New York for 22 years and never had a stoop to sit on — nothing more than a bench, said Ms. Spivey, who works in advertising."

Crissy Spivey bought a one-bedroom, one-bath co-op in Ditmas Park in 2018 and soon shared it with partner John Richie. After their daughter was born in 2019 they converted the unit into a two-bedroom with a small office. Winters often included Ms. Spivey's mother, increasing household size and prompting a need for more space, an additional bathroom and outdoor access. The couple set a budget up to $900,000 to stay near Ditmas Park and the Q train, accepted properties would need renovation, and prioritized off-street parking and proximity to their daughter's school and activities.

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