Relocating to KC area. Need advice (Lee's Summit, Blue Springs: real estate market, rental, low crime)

[nursekacy]

Hello everyone. My husband, daughter and I are planning on relocating to KC area this fall/winter from AZ. I need advice on what you think are the best places to live for families. Which area has the best schools? We are planning on moving out of AZ because the state is ranked 48th in the nation for education and would live to move closer to family in Nebraska. Our price range is from 150K-210K. Thanks for all your help!

[janbski]

Blue Valley School District Overland Park, KS in Johnson County, KS, just over the state line is great. I live in Overland Park, KS, you'll find just about anything you need nearby!

[GraniteStater]

The Shawnee Mission district in JOCO or Lee's Summit in MO will probably be what you are looking for. The Northland school districts in Platte and Clay counties in MO are good as well. With the price range you stated, most of Blue Valley in OP will be out of your price range.

[kcmo]

Originally Posted by GraniteStater

With the price range you stated, most of Blue Valley in OP will be out of your price range.

Most??? Let me know if you can find a home in Blue Valley for 120, or even 150k that doesn’t' need to be torn down and rebuilt it's in such bad shape.

For a NICE home in that price range, not a crappy home in a nice area. I would look at Blue Springs, MO.

But it depends on what part of the metro.

There are parts of the Northland and JoCo (not blue valley) that also have some homes in that range that are worth the money.

But I have found that you really need to get up to the 150 range to get a nice home. There is a huge difference between 120k home and 150k home.

For the most parts, you will probably want to look at older areas of nicer suburbs like Lenexa, Blue Springs, Lee’s Summit, Shawnee, Overland Park and the south side of the Northland.

[GraniteStater]

Originally Posted by kcmo

Most??? Let me know if you can find a home in Blue Valley for 120, or even 150k that doesn’t' need to be torn down and rebuilt it's in such bad shape.

For a NICE home in that price range, not a crappy home in a nice area. I would look at Blue Springs, MO.

But it depends on what part of the metro.

There are parts of the Northland and JoCo (not blue valley) that also have some homes in that range that are worth the money.

But I have found that you really need to get up to the 150 range to get a nice home. There is a huge difference between 120k home and 150k home.

For the most parts, you will probably want to look at older areas of nicer suburbs like Lenexa, Blue Springs, Lee’s Summit, Shawnee, Overland Park and the south side of the Northland.

You could possibly find an older home near the Olathe line for 150K. That does not mean that I think the area is a good value for the $.

[kcmo]

Originally Posted by GraniteStater

You could possibly find an older home near the Olathe line for 150K. That does not mean that I think the area is a good value for the $.

Olathe is not Blue Vally...

And you can easily find a home in Olathe for 150k. But they are pretty bad. My brother just moved from a rental in Olathe and looked for months for a home in the 130-140k range in the area and couldn't find anything worth living in. All they could find was 20 year old poorly constructed, yet not well maintained or updated suburban homes that were just falling apart.

They just bought a home just outside of Platte Woods in the Northland for 145k that is nice, but still needs some work.

In that price range, it's tough and if you do find a home you like in that price range, you better jump on it fast, they sell like hotcakes.

I still think Blue Springs is one of your best bets in that price range to get a very well kept home in a nice well kept area.

"Well kept" being key here.

The house in the Northland by brother bought would have cost 130k in Blue Springs and 155k in Olathe.

[wathman]

I agree with the 150k price point, that's where you start seeing some of the nicer features or upgraded materials. Below that you're either dealing with older construction needing work, or something newer that pinched every penny going towards materials to keep the cost down. Personally I liked the Northland area, there's a lot of possibilities in Clay and Platte county, with more newer constructions in Clay.

Not sure how neighborhoods are for you out in AZ, but here the home owners associations can be a real pain with all the regulations they try to impose on YOUR property. Some rules are just common sense, but others really make me wish I was able to afford a lot of land outside the city so I could do what I want with my home.

[KC lover]

I would look at Lee's Summit. Named last year as one of the top places in America to live (along with Overland Park--though much cheaper than OP).
Lee's Summit includes many neighborhoods built around lakes. It has perhaps one of the top school districts in Missouri, low crime and a great park/ trail system. Add to that a fantastic new shopping district that will rival anything in Overland Park. It will include Macy's, JC Penny's, Dillards and I hear a Nordstroms in the future. Aside from those stores, we have everything else you could need. But Greenwood, MO (a little hamlet surrounded by LS) has very affordable housing in that range. My nephew just bought a brand new home for 150k because the real estate market had slowed. It had been on market for 210. Just my thoughts. On the downside, like Johnson County, KS, Lee's Summit is very upper middle class and the materialism is pervasive in the schools, churches. Pleasant Hill, just outside LS, is a small rural community that has a small town feel and more agricultural atmosphere if that's your background. Platte County is great if you want large Jumbo jets on a flight path on the way to the airport. It can get quite loud up there and since you have to cross the river to go anywhere else in KC, travel south can be hampered in the morning and evenings, depending on your work location.

[nursekacy]

150k is just a starting point we are willing to go up to 210 or higher if need be but we would like to hit around 180-200,000 range.

[coffeedrinker]

Hi Nursekacy -

We are moving from NC and are settling in Shawnee, KS, which is northwest Johnson County, Kansas. We wanted to stay in the 200-220 range and found a GREAT place for just a little above that (I really thought we could get real estate dirt cheap in this economy, but it seems KC has a pretty healthy market!). Shawnee has a great school system and wonderful neighborhoods with lots of families. We were also looking in Liberty (Clay Co) area which has great schools. Both houses we loved fell through out there. Anyway, KC is an awesome place to live! Welcome!