Couple Trades Austin Home for Chicago Condo to Be Closer to Kids' School

Nathan Smith and Megan Jones-Smith moved their family from Texas to Illinois to find a new home near their sons' school.

Mar. 12, 2026 at 9:04am

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After 13 years in Austin, Texas, Nathan Smith and Megan Jones-Smith decided to move their family of four to Chicago, where they had met decades ago. With a budget of around $900,000, the couple searched for a single-family home in North Side neighborhoods like Bowmanville, Ravenswood, and Lincoln Square, but found the market highly competitive. They ultimately settled on a three-bedroom, 2.5-bath condo in Bowmanville that offered the space and amenities they needed, including proximity to their sons' school.

Why it matters

The Smiths' move from Austin to Chicago highlights the challenges families can face when relocating, especially when trying to find the right home and school situation for their children. Their story illustrates the competitive nature of the Chicago housing market, where single-family homes in desirable neighborhoods can be hard to come by, even for buyers with a sizable budget.

The details

After considering a move to British Columbia, the Smiths decided on Chicago, where they had met years ago and where a branch of their sons' school was located. With a budget of around $900,000, they searched for a single-family home in North Side neighborhoods, but found the market highly competitive, with available homes often selling for well over $1 million. They ultimately settled on a three-bedroom, 2.5-bath condo in Bowmanville that offered the space and amenities they needed, including proximity to their sons' school.

  • The Smiths had to wrap up a deal before the new school year started.

The players

Nathan Smith

A 50-year-old executive at an American agricultural company who is moving his family from Austin, Texas, to Chicago.

Megan Jones-Smith

A 53-year-old who works in the arts in client services and is moving her family from Austin, Texas, to Chicago.

Joe Zimmerman

The operating principal at Keller Williams One Chicago who helped the Smiths buy their first condo in Chicago's West Loop neighborhood years ago.

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What they’re saying

“Especially with the last election, it can be very hard to live in Texas sometimes if you're a progressive person.”

— Megan Jones-Smith (The New York Times)

“I had friends whose kids were older, and when they moved right after their kids graduated, the kids didn't have a home to go home to.”

— Megan Jones-Smith (The New York Times)

“You can get a nice condo in Chicago that's three or four bedrooms that has the same square footage as our house did in Austin.”

— Megan Jones-Smith (The New York Times)

What’s next

The Smiths will need to finalize the purchase of their new condo in Chicago and prepare for the move with their two sons before the start of the new school year.

The takeaway

The Smiths' move from Austin to Chicago highlights the challenges families can face when relocating, especially when trying to find the right home and school situation for their children. Their story illustrates the competitive nature of the Chicago housing market, where single-family homes in desirable neighborhoods can be hard to come by, even for buyers with a sizable budget.