Would I be crazy to move to east KCMO? (Independence: real estate, to rent) - City-Data Forum

solardream · 10-04-2009, 05:30 PM

I've noticed that some areas of KCMO (east side) have consistently had super cheap real estate...like decent, livable house under $10,000. I am so tempted to buy one, but as a single mother of a preschooler, would that be totally idiotic with the crime rate? I've lived near Raytown in KC and felt safe. I've also lived in the worst neighborhoods in Lexington KY and felt perfectly safe. However, Lexington is smaller and safer than KC.

So how bad is it really? Would I be okay for the most part if I'm not involved in crime or drugs? Are people neighborly around there so I could at least get to know my neighbors and have a sense of community?

lifelongMOgal · 10-04-2009, 05:50 PM

IMO, it would be an unwise investment. Is this really the area you would feel is best to raise your child?

Why would an individual "buy" in any area where the asset would be unlikely to retain or increase in value yet highly likely that the home would continue to decrease in value? In that scenario wouldn't it be better to rent?

Cheap housing is not necessarily the same as a good value.

kcmo · 10-04-2009, 07:30 PM

Depends on what areas you are looking at. There are areas you would want to stay away from and then there are areas that are ok. Most people in KC think far east KCMO/Raytown is ghetto,which it is not. So if you are confortable in the Raytown and portions of KCMO that are near Raytown then you would be ok in some parts of eastern KCMO. I assume you are looking at areas west of 435?

kcmo · 10-05-2009, 12:01 AM

I did not see that you said under 10k. I thought you said under 100k.

Yea, that's crazy. Get a bullet proof vest. The only homes you will find for under 10k are either non-livable (need to be razed) or are in a super high crime area. Chances are, it's both high crime and the home is falling down.

OneKC · 10-05-2009, 07:59 AM

It depends. I had a professor that bought a house at Linwood and Troost for $20,000, fixed it up a bit and actually sold it for like $80,000. She was a single woman living by herself too and said she never had a problem with crime. I think she was also trying to prove a point though.

Just consider that the price of the home probably reflects the perceptions of that area. But I have known a few people that have bought homes at dirt cheap prices only to flip them for much higher prices. Most of those were in Hyde Park though, a pretty safe neighborhood. Honestly, crime wouldn't be my big concern for you, the big concern is that you'd be wasting $10,000 because you'd never be able to re-sell the house.

AONE · 10-05-2009, 08:05 AM

I use to reno homes in that part of town. I had doors broken down carpets removed, cabinets and so on... You will risk losing everything you have when you go to work... I give it 2 weeks.

So knowing that.. Does it still look like a bargain?

louiee37 · 10-05-2009, 03:10 PM

I live east of KC between Independence and Blue Springs not a bad area and cheaper. Make sure if you have school age children to get into the Blue SPrings school district its the best!

misplaced1 · 10-05-2009, 03:26 PM

I've always did my best to make sure my kids had a safe place to live. In a smaller town, you can get away with paying little for a decent rehab house but I'd be really careful in the city.

MoNative34 · 10-05-2009, 07:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OneKC

It depends. I had a professor that bought a house at Linwood and Troost for $20,000, fixed it up a bit and actually sold it for like $80,000. She was a single woman living by herself too and said she never had a problem with crime. I think she was also trying to prove a point though.

Troost and Linwood isn't the worst area. 10 blocks east and south would be far worse.

AJK1535 · 10-05-2009, 08:22 PM

As a worker who had to walk around many neighborhoods in KC's east side (ie east of troost to about van brunt and from Independence ave to about 87th) I would most certainly NOT buy a house in those neighborhoods. They are depressing places full of neglect and discontent and I would NEVER raise a kid there. I've been all over and met some great people in those neighborhoods but when one very nice lady saw me, she asked what I was doing there and if I was lost. Skip that area and find a better place for you and yours.