Probably moving to Lees Summit...help! (Lee's Summit, Raytown: section 8, apartments, rentals)

[daphne'n'buster]

Hi everyone,

I'm debating between a couple of job offers but I'm leaning towards moving up to Lees Summit (or one of the little surrounding towns). I know absolutely nothing about the area, and all the apartment ratings I've seen so far are incredibly negative! It's so hard to judge though...you never know if those people skipped on their lease or had 20 cats or something, lol

Anyway, I'm only going to have a few days to blitz into town...look around...find something. If anyone could point me towards a specific complex I should look at or a great realtor that handles rentals I would really appreciate the help.

Facts...I'd like to stay between $500-$800 on rent. I do have 2 small dogs (hence my screen name) both under 10lbs. I would prefer a duplex/4-plex/etc. in a more residential neighborhood. Ideally I would also like a garage. I am flexible on number of bed/bathrooms, I'd like 2BR, 1BA.

I'm coming off a 45-50 minute each way commute for over a year...really don't want to repeat that so soon, but I wouldn't object to driving around 20min. each way.

To be perfectly blunt, I do not want to be anywhere near Section 8 housing or have to deal with a bunch of idiots hanging out on the street blaring music or dealing. The biggest issue for me is safety...when I leave the house in the morning I don't want to spend all day at work worrying that someone is going to break in and hurt my dogs or steal my stuff!

OK...I know there are a lot of threads on Lees Summit already but most of them seemed to be more focused on renting in good school districts or buying homes. I'm a single woman in my mid-20's....I just want to find a rental where I'm not scared to get out of my car at night!!!

Any help from anyone would be VERY appreciated...

DnB

Forgot....Direct Messages are fine )

[WiseOwlSaysHoot]

I've never seen any part of Lee's Summit that would be frightening.

For your tastes, you may want to avoid the areas to the north west of LS - Raytown and the Bannister area.

I'm not sure what you're looking for personally, but being single and in your mid 20s, you may find Lee's Summit to be boring. Have you though about living anywhere in the city? The commute is not that bad from somewhere like the Plaza or Waldo where you could take 71 (especially since you would be reverse commuting).

[boyet]

My wife and I just got back from looking at possible places in KC yesterday. We drove around Lee Summit and Parkville area for 4 days. If we were going to stay in Lee Summit, the Manor Homes of Arbor Walk Aparments looked very clean and enticing, and was our choice; also the price range is within your range. The complex had 1 car or 2 car garages, and also are pet-friendly.

[Keeem]

71 Hwy is not friendly for a woman driving at night. I used to live in LS and commute to the Plaza and I always stuck to 350 and avoided late night commutes. In the winter it's unavoidable to not drive in the dark both in the morning and at night, but other times of the year it could be avoided. I was near Douglas in one of the new developments. We were entertained at night by local kiddies in the street listening to music. I do not miss the area at all.

Where will you be working? Consider a nicer area near there - you mention wanting to live in Lee's Summit, but where is the job you're taking?

BTW, as an aside, 20-30 minutes to the Plaza on 350 from Lee's Summit on dry roads with normal traffic. Bad traffic would only add 10-15 minutes to the commute. Nice really. But add heavy rain, double that. Snow, quadruple. Really. I've spent 3+ hours driving home from the Plaza in snow/ice in a Jeep. It's not me, it's the roads and lack of treatment and that 1/2 the drivers don't get all seasons and are spinning on bare treads. Bah!

[daphne'n'buster]

Thanks so far for all the feedback everyone.

WiseOwlSaysHoot: I've heard that there isn't a heck of a lot to do in Lees Summit but I'm a small town person...LS would seem huge to me forget KC proper!

boyet: I have looked at the Arbor Walk website. Did you do a walk-through of the complex? I noted that there seem to be an awful lot of negative things said about it online...granted grain of salt and all...

Keeem: I appreciate the feedback on 71...I HATE driving at night in bad weather...growing up in Missouri I'm definately capable but I'd like to avoid it!

Facts...I'm going to be working in Lees Summit at the NBC on NW Chipman Rd. I don't mind a bit of a commute though.

I did have Continental North Apartments on my "to see" list but when I mapquested it I think Gladstone is a little farther away than I want. agh. Bearing in mind how reliable mapquest is though, does anyone have firsthand knowledge of how far Gladstone would be.

I'm from a small town and I like the idea of renting a duplex or small home in a smallish town and commuting to Lees Summit...I think I might end up w/ something a lot quieter and more what I'm looking for than in any apartment I've seen online in Lees Summit itself.

Anyone know any fabulous realtors??? lol

Thoughts?


Thanks again to everyone so far,

d'n'b

[kcmo]

Did NBC move to Lee's Summit?