KC Apartments (Independence: rental, home, living)

[pj66]

Looking for an apartment for $500 or under either along the Max line or on the Square in Independence. My circumstances...I was recently declared legally blind and will start receiving Disability next month. I need to keep my rent below $500 because of this. Another factor playing into where I end up living...if I am able to find work I can do from home (editing, technical writing, etc.), living on or near the Max line will not be my main priority as I will not need to rely on public transportation to get to and from work. If I find work I can do online, an apartment on the Square seems to be ideal. The area is older so a rental might be a bit cheaper, public transportation is within walking distance, and my mom (my source of transportation right now) lives in Indep. so living close to her would make it easier on her should I need rides for my eye treatments (twice a month). If I find work I need to commute to, then living near the Max line would be ideal.

Open to any other suggestions in case I'm not thinking outside the box enough...I'm flexible and just in the early stages of planning.

[aragx6]

Where are your eye treatments at? Would it make sense to live near there?

You could get a teeny tiny studio downtown at Quality Hill: Studio available now (http://kansascity.craigslist.org/apa/2459552846.html - broken link)

Here's a 1BR actually on Main: All Utlities Paid $99 Move In Free Plasma TV (http://kansascity.craigslist.org/apa/2455326553.html - broken link) (I'd wonder about the quality of the neighbors a bit though)

Here's a place in Hyde Park that would also be very near the MAX: Studio Hyde Park (http://kansascity.craigslist.org/apa/2441991310.html - broken link)

best of luck!

[brewcrew1000]

That one on 35th and Main is so/so, i see bummy looking people hanging outside on steps but i've also been seeing more arty/hipster type people going in and out.

[WiseOwlSaysHoot]

The apartment on Main is right next to a 24 hour laundry that can sometimes attract vagrants. I don't think it's dangerous, but you may get people asking you for change, etc.

There's a decent selection of 1 bedrooms for $500 within a couple blocks of the MAX through midtown. I don't have any particular recommendations. Just search on craigslist for things like "midtown" "westport" "plaza"

[xenokc]

If you want cheap apts and understand inner city living, Southmoreland may have the best balance of cheap and relatively less commotion than the cheapest along the MAX line. It's E of 43rd and Main... S of main gets higher as you go so. N of 43rd has cheaper rent but approaches the high issue area of 39th. In the city though, cheap usually comes with some kind of commotion. Off MAX in city core, I would otherwise suggest W side of Midtown along the 51/Broadway line or W39th.