Looking for info on Lee's Summit (Kansas City, Independence: mortgage, relocating, apartment)

[oldmanshirt]

For work reasons, my wife and I may possibly be relocating to Lee's Summit. We currently live in the Northland and like it, so we'd be looking for an area that's similar. We'd likely be in the market for a townhome or duplex around the $100s to $120s. Schools aren't necessarily an issue at this point because we don't have kids. We do have a dog and like to walk outside, so having parks or recreation areas nearby is important. My wife would be working at Lakewood and I'd be going to school at UMKC, so some feedback on expected commute times would be helpful, as well.

I've been a member of these forums for awhile now but this is my first post in the KC section, so I'm looking forward to possibly getting to know some of you Thanks for the input!

[kcmo]

I would look into Arborwalk or Longview Farms, both are new urbanism communities with row houses and apartment buildings designed around pedestrians and both are close to major lakes. They are more in line with young people without kids that want to live in the burbs, but don't want quite the suburban lifestyle just yet.

Arborwalk is near Raintree in South Lee's Summit and Longview Farms is near Longview Lake in eastern central Lee's Summit. Both are a breath of fresh air in KC's somewhat monotanous suburban living choices.

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Your wife would probably get an easier commute, but depending on where you live in the northland, your UMKC commute will probably be about the same (or get worse).

[Lsautism]

The taxes are higher here than any of the surrounding cities. The schools are good if you decide to have children and they are A+ students. Otherwise, I wouldn't stick around once your children are school aged.

Lee's Summit has one of the highest tax levies in the suburban Kansas City area. The school levies for local cities are: Blue Springs R-4 5.3893, Grandview 5.45, Hickman Mills 5.54, Independence 5.0841, Ray-Pec 5.0397, R-7 5.8116. I don't believe that money is being spent as wisely as it could be.

I can give you more information if you are interested.

[jdillabough]

You can get a nice three bedroom townhouse or condo in Lee's Summit for under 110K. One of the great things about Lee's Summit is that it has a great deal of room for development. For that reason there are areas of Lee's Summit that could be considered rural. You can get a condo downtown and have the city life or find a townhouse near Lakewood and have some room to spread out. It is the best of both worlds. I buy houses in and around the area. I would check out the the Condos at Oaks Ridge Meadows. These are great townhomes just off of 470 near Lakewood. I have seen some go for as little as $90,000. Let me know if you need more info. I work in the mortgage field in Lee's Summit and have closed on a couple townhouses in that subdivision.