Need help with KC, MO neighborhoods!!!!!!

[kcmo]

Originally Posted by Samantha S

I was teasing you, kcmo.

But I disagree with your motivation and I think it clouds your advice. For example, you can't call Topeka, KS a hellhole in one breath and extol the virtues of Grandview or Raytown, MO in the next. You lose credibility.

I don't think someone who is moving into this area needs to ask themselves, "What's best for the metro area?" "Where should I buy property that will benefit the regional assets?"

That's silly.

If you are coming to this area, you should be asking yourself: What am I looking for? What do I want in a home, a neighborhood, a city/town and possibly an investment. It's my money and my life and lifestyle. What's best for me? (or us as the case may be)

There is a difference between being self-focused and selfish. And there are times when it's appropriate to be self-focused. Choosing a home as well as a potential major investment is definitely one of those times.

First off, the main reason Topeka is a hellhole is due to its location. I’m sure there is decent enough housing stock, basic retail/dining etc. But I could never live in a city like that. If it was part of metro KC, like Raytown is, then that changes everything. You can live in Raytown yet take advantage of what KCMO/LS/Indep/JoCo etc have to over on a daily basis.

That’s just me though. For somebody that is ok with a very suburban and conservative lifestyle, and doesn’t really need to get out and do much etc, then I doubt there would be much difference between living in the west part of Topeka vs something similar in a KC suburb.

I think most small Midwestern cities are run down to some degree, ultra conservative, super religious and simply “boring” and I couldn’t live in them. I might be able to survive a college town for a short period, but in the Midwest, I would only live in a few places. KC, Minneapolis, Chicago, St Louis etc.

As far as pushing people to live on the MO side. I agree, I think those people should look at all their options. But believe me, there will be many more people pushing them to the KS side and I only want to remind people that they should also look at MO.

I don’t expect people to settle in a specific area of town just because it’s the right thing to do for the health of the region, but I do want to make sure people do look at their options.

But I stand by my point that people that settle on the MO side tend to be more involved and have more of a vested interest in some of the more important regional issues where KS people tend to be only interested in KS till it’s time to go to MO for something.

That is all.

Good luck OP, wherever you end up. The entire metro area is a great place to live.

[bconaghan]

Hi,
Did you get any good information in answer to your question?
Brenda Conaghan

[mrbmpls]

I don't want to live anywhere near a Red Lobster, that's for sure, and I wouldn't walk across the street to get to one, much less cross a state line! But, like luzianne said, to each his own.

I'm a KC native relocating from Minneapolis to KC, and to me, all of the suburbs in KS (including OP) seem like all of the suburbs in MO and MN (and every other state I've had the misfortune to travel to on business). Kansas City is in MO. I've spent the last month looking for a rental - we don't want to buy right away - and Waldo was one of our top choices. I'd look there for value, character, and a good investment in the $75-125k range.

And you are correct - JOCO folks are quite arrogant.

[Jimmy Burma]

"- you may find things that are listed as 'near-Brookside' - between Troost and Main, from 59th to 71st/Gregory, for example ... there are some BEAUTIFUL neighborhoods in this area, and there are some pockets where you will not recoup your investment ... either way you are still in the KCMO school district ... I'm not saying 'don't buy there' - just making you aware"

I'd second this or below, the Red Bridge area. Otherwise, maybe some of the more low key, South Waldo neighborhoods. Schools will be a little less than desired but from what I've gathered this will probably be your best bet. The area around Bannister Mall is more than an iffy investment. There will be a major soccer complex going in the next few years but I highly doubt that it will really bring the neighborhood up that much. This is from a former South KC resident who knows the area like the back of his hand. The post below and above is pretty solid advice.

"- consider the Red Bridge area of KCMO (Wornall - Holmes, south of I-435 to Red Bridge Road) - this area is close to the Kansas state line/Overland Park and you can find things there for $125-135K - i believe the majority of that area is in the Center School District"

-

[TabulaRasa]

Originally Posted by d4kc

- someone recommended Brookside earlier ... you will be hard-pressed to find anything in Brookside in your range. Sorry. There will be what I consider smallish to medium houses in Waldo in that range. Issues with the KCMO school district make it difficult to buy within the boundaries of the district (inlcuding Waldo and Brookside) unless you can afford private school.

Portions of Waldo - south of 85th, for instance - are in Center School District, as well.

[d4kc]

(jimmy - thanks for seconding my advice!)

I was househunting earlier this year and posted on this board, giving my opinions of various KC neighborhoods.

In March I bought a house (3/2, brick, basement, garage, large yard with trees) in Grandview near the community center ("The View") for just under $100K ...

and I LOVE IT!

Lots of young families in the neighborhood as well as empty nesters. Not to say that there are no 'for sale' signs here. There are. But I love my neighborhood. Still very quiet - and it's summer, when you'd expect to all the cars with TONS of bass driving by.

Everyone is different, but this purchase fit me perfectly.

And at the same time my neighbors are moving! They say they are moving 'near' brookside (I think there's been enough discussion here to know that 'near' brookside is not the same as 'brookside' - not that that's bad; just being honest).

And ... yesterday I drove through town from Crown Center all the way to Grandview, and part of that was through Brookside - I counted FOUR houses for sale on Brookside Boulevard, and I wasn't really looking that closely. Who knows how many are for sale on the side streets ...? If there was ever a time to try to get into Brookside for under 180K, this might be it ...?

[TabulaRasa]

We're househunting, and there's tons for sale in every neighborhood and suburb we check out. Not sure about getting into Brookside for that price, as it's not one of the areas we're looking, but it wouldn't surprise me if it's doable, for a smaller property.