Possible move to KC Area (Independence, Florissant: how much, attorneys, big home)

[mercedes1]

O3PSD -
Check out real estate on both sides of the stateline with realtor.com. Overland Park is consistently ranked in top ten Best Cities. Go Jayhawks!!!!!!

[GraniteStater]

Originally Posted by 03psd

All-

Thank you very much for the spirited responses. All opinions are very much appreciated. I have much work to do narrowing it down if the move comes to pass.

One question: Every house I see listed in my price range on just about any realestate website is stucco construction. Is this the norm? I hate stucco and where we live stucco is generally used as a less expensive alternative to brick. I know different areas of the country have different norms but does any one in that area have 4 sided brick homes?

Thanks again,

03psd

Good observations about the stucco. I can NOT stand stucco myself. It just does not hold up well with the climate that KC has. I have seen some newer houses that have stucco exterior that have already developed cracking.
Generally in the KC metro area the brick homes are older in age. The cookie cutter stucco craze started about 10-20 years ago, especially in newer areas of Olathe and south Overland Park.

[denverian]

Originally Posted by Plains10

Good observations about the stucco. I can NOT stand stucco myself. It just does not hold up well with the climate that KC has. I have seen some newer houses that have stucco exterior that have already developed cracking.
Generally in the KC metro area the brick homes are older in age. The cookie cutter stucco craze started about 10-20 years ago, especially in newer areas of Olathe and south Overland Park.

That's funny. I don't notice much stucco in the KC area. What I see is that crappy batton/board siding that makes every house look like a barn on the back and sides that peels, chips and needs painting every 3 years. Or some newer houses have some equally crappy wood paneling siding that warps and looks like crap in just a few years.

We have lots of stucco in Denver (and I had stucco in California) and it never cracked or peeled. All it needs is a power wash every few years. Climate has nothing to do with stucco either. Look at all the stucco used on the Plaza! If it's falling off the sides of new houses, then the builder didn't apply it correctly. It should be relatively maintenance free. But overall, KC has the worst siding of anywhere I've ever seen on houses.

My house in Denver has brick and hardy-board siding, which looks like horizontal wood siding but it actually has cement in it. It holds paint forever and wears pretty much like stucco. I haven't seen it used in KC though.

[aragx6]

Stucco is everywhere in the newer areas I have been in the KC metro (esp. Overland Park!), and the deterioration factor I am told is in fact due much to climate.

It's certainly cheaper than brick which is why it's popular. In St. Louis most less expensive newer homes are made with vinyl siding, so pick your poison I guess. Though I do see more upscale (400+) homes in StL use more brick than I generally have in KC.

[kcmo]

If you can afford a 350-400k home, why you wouldn't put rock or something on it is beyond me, especially in KC where your home will look far better than anything else in the neighborhood just because of the lack of stucco or siding.

Plus, less beige paint

[GraniteStater]

Originally Posted by aragx6

Stucco is everywhere in the newer areas I have been in the KC metro (esp. Overland Park!), and the deterioration factor I am told is in fact due much to climate.

It's certainly cheaper than brick which is why it's popular. In St. Louis most less expensive newer homes are made with vinyl siding, so pick your poison I guess. Though I do see more upscale (400+) homes in StL use more brick than I generally have in KC.

I prefer brick to stucco or vinyl siding. I just wish that the prices of brick were not quite as expensive compared with the cheaper alternatives.
If only I had taken some pictures of that cracked exterior stucco that I have seen in south Overland Park

[kcmo]

Originally Posted by Plains10

I prefer brick to stucco or vinyl siding. I just wish that the prices of brick were not quite as expensive compared with the cheaper alternatives.
If only I had taken some pictures of that cracked exterior stucco that I have seen in south Overland Park

Here is an idea. Buy less sq ft and get more "quality". My home is only 1900 sq ft, but I have granite, tile etc all over the place.

Why every home south of 435 has to be at least 3500sq ft is also beyond me, never more than 2-3 kids per home.

[GraniteStater]

Originally Posted by kcmo

Here is an idea. Buy less sq ft and get more "quality". My home is only 1900 sq ft, but I have granite, tile etc all over the place.

Why every home south of 435 has to be at least 3500sq ft is also beyond me, never more than 2-3 kids per home.

I agree with you. I call it the "cookie cutter lifestyle" to go along with the sunbelt culture. I know a few people who moved to JOCO from CA because of the relatively cheap housing prices that the KC metro has.

[03psd]

I am definetly not opposed to quality but at certain price points there are certain expectations. A home in the $350k-$450k price range with only 1900sq/ft would have very limited resale appeal regardless of how plush it was. I currently have 4000 sq ft and no kids but we have large rooms and like our space. While we could get a smaller house, we would have to sell a bunch of furniture to make it work. We will consider anything 3000+ sq ft but anything smaller would be tough to make work. I dont know if its a "cookie cutter" mindset but it is tough to significantly downsize.

[northbayeric]

No no, stick to plan A. The KC metro area is large enough that you should definitely be able to find an ideal home that isn't cookie-cutter and certainly not made out of stucco! That was the most jarring thing I noticed about the houses around here compared to those back in my hometown of Florissant, MO. In Florissant, many houses are at least partially made out of brick. In Santa Rosa, CA and surrounding towns, most are made out of either stucco or wood because they evidently fare better in a large earthquake. The stucco homes just seemed more junky-looking to me than all-brick.

Anyway, I think we're just trying to help you find something other than a cookie-cutter home or a McMansion neighborhood that has great big homes squished close together and very tiny front and back yards with decidedly less than mature landscaping. There's got to be some places that were built in maybe the 1960s that are sturdily built, aren't jammed together, are distinct from neighboring houses, and have attractive, mature landscaping (as long as there isn't a tree that will damage or destroy the roof in the event of a severe thunderstorm or winter ice storm). Between us and a good real estate agent, something great has to happen. Or you might conclude that buying a bit of acreage and having a custom home built on it is the way to go. Let us know what.....develops! (pun intended)