Family moving-need advice please! (Kansas City, Independence: real estate, for sale, job)

[Delawaremommy]

My husband may be accepting a job in southern Kansas City. We are from Delaware and have no idea what to expect! I am a stay at home mom to three small children (4 1/2, 2 and 10 months). Obviously, schools are a big concern, but we would also like a family friendly, safe area to live in. Based on what we have read so far, we have narrowed it down to Lee's Summit, Blue Springs, Parkville and Liberty. We are looking to buy a large home (4-5 bedrooms, over 3,000 square feet) for under 350k. It would be a dream come true if we could get a lake view!
Would the commute from South Kansas City be too much if we lived north of the city? What is the best place to raise a family? We are looking for parks, libraries, shopping, anything to keep us entertained! Any advice would be appreciated!

[kcmo]

It sounds like you would really like Lee's Summit. Very suburban, yet they have one of the nicest suburban downtown districts in the metro, great schools (regardless of what you read on this forum) and lots and lots of lakes.

It would also be a pretty quick commute to SKC where Blue Springs and the northern suburbs may not be as quick.

Lee's Summit might be a bit pricy though, especially for a home on a lake. Most homes on an actual lake in LS such as Raintree or Lakewood, will cost 350k and up, and I would imagine, most start much higher.

So, you might have to live "close" to a lake.

There are also a lot of recreational lakes (parks) in Lee's Summit that don't have homes on the shores such as Blue Springs Lake, Lake Jacomo and Longview Lake. All of these lakes have a lot of subdivisions very close though.

As far as "what to expect" and entertainment, KC is a large city (over 2 million people), so entertainment is all over the place. It just depends on what you want to do.

There is just about anything you need or want in KC that any big city would offer. A large suburb, like LS, will offer suburban entertainment such as shopping, dining, movies etc.

If you want to visit the zoo, amusement parks, museums, pro sports, (urban culture in general) it's all in KCMO which is not far away.

Good luck.

[kcmetromomsDOTcom]

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[christina0001]

All the places you are looking at are very nice. The commute wouldn't be terrible (as per east coast standards) from north of the city to S. KC, but Lee's Summit and maybe Blue Springs would probably be the most convenient. There are lots of lake communities. I moved here from NJ last year and you won't be bored here, they pretty much have everything you will be used to, out here. If you are looking for a real estate agent, please send me a DM (direct message) if you like and I would be happy to recommend one.

[Lsautism]

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, Lee's Summit R-7 5.8116. I don't believe that money is being spent as wisely as it could be.

The school district is good if your child is well above average. If not, I would seek another area.

[Lsautism]

Lee's Summit would not be my first choice for schools. I would pick Blue Springs over them. If you have a child that is advanced move to Lee's Summit. Otherwise, I'd say move to Kansas.

[Keeem]

Have a look at Lake Tapawingo. It's a city with a city in Blue Springs. Kids get Blue Springs schools, you get a real community in a private city where neighbors know each other by name and people care about others. Oh and there's a lake. Everyone gets lake access & rights (and dock), unlike Lakewood where you can: wait 10 years for a boat slip; can't park your boats in front of your house; can't have basketball nets or playgyms without fines; have to plant certain plants and shrubs; etc. Lakewood has A LOT of rules. There are a few great properties available (1st lakeside) here at Lake Tapawingo right now for that price or less. Check out Lake Tapawingo, Missouri homes and Lake Tapawingo, Missouri real estate for sale
for a few listings at RealtyX (it's the only "waterfront/lakefront" in 64015 on real estate sites) or http://www.city-data.com/city/Lake-T...-Missouri.html for more information.

[melissajo]

I, personally, wouldn't make the commute from up North to S. Kansas City. My husband has been looking for job transfers to KC for a couple years. We have turned down the ones in S. Kansas City because we really want to live in the Northland (only because ALL my family lives north of the river). Sure, we are STILL waiting to see if we will ever move back, but I don't want my husband to have to make that commute. Right now he only drives about 15 minutes one way (we live in SW MO) and I hate to make him double or triple it just because I want to live in KC.