Her father, the first-generation American son of Puerto Rican parents, and her mother, an immigrant from Colombia, had always encouraged her to own property. “Growing up, I was always told, ‘If you can buy, then buy,’” said Ms. Gonzalez, 27, who works remotely as a digital communications strategy manager for a Mexico-based tequila brand. “The idea of buying in New York felt impossible, so I decided to get as close as I could,” she said. By the summer of 2022, she figured that selling her apartment would leave her with a budget of up to $600,000 to buy a new place. [Also in Real Estate: This 835-Year-Old Medieval English House Needs Some Modern Love — and a Buyer.]

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