Relocating to suburbs (Independence, Lee's Summit, Blue Springs: crime rates, house, neighborhood)

[Samantha S]

Originally Posted by northbound74

Don't assume that Johnson County is the only place every well-to-do person should even consider moving to.

Please stop assuming that anyone is assuming that.

[kcmo]

I can see being somewhat concerned with moving to Raytown or something and Raytown in a safe area. But Platte County? Olathe? Blows my mind. I just don't see how people can live in such fear. It's just nuts.

I guess living in KC all my life, I know these areas and have lived in Platte County and have relatives there. Nobody ever talks about how "safe" it is. Because it never crosses anybody's mind. I just can't comprehend that way of thinking. I understand a lot of people are like her. I just don't get it. These are the typs of people that would probably be deathly affraid to even stop at a walgreens in Independence or Grandview. Totally safe areas with normal people and nice stores, because they think they will be a crime victom. I simply can not comprehend it. But that's just me.

[Samantha S]

Originally Posted by kcmo

These are the typs of people that would probably be deathly affraid to even stop at a walgreens in Independence or Grandview. Totally safe areas with normal people and nice stores, because they think they will be a crime victom. I simply can not comprehend it. But that's just me.

More unfair characterization. Why must you do this?

Olathe, as an example is more socially and economically diverse than Leawood or South OP. This is going to skew the crime stats.

It doesn't mean Olathe is a bad place to live. There are good areas and not so good areas. But if you are completely new to the whole metro, maybe you don't care to spend weeks or months figuring out which is which, which ones look okay, but experience more crime because they are close to less-great areas.

If you want to take the pressure off of yourself by limiting your search, this doesn't mean you are "freaking out". No one is asking you to "comprehend it," just stop insulting people over it, please.

[RjRobb2]

Originally Posted by sparksharp

Just about the time I was ready to focus solely on the Northland for finding a home, I looked up the official crime stats for the zip code of two houses we were interested in up in the Northland. The crime index for that area rated a 6, when the National average is a 4. That little tidbit was a deal breaker for me and we are now strictly focusing on southern Johnson County and Leawood. The crime rate in those areas were only a 1 or 2.

By the way...the crime stats in Olatha rated a 6 on the scale too! So...Olatha is out for us as well. I feel like we're starting from scratch here! <Sigh>

What zip codes did you look up? If you give me those, I can clear them up for you.

As I have mentioned before, I have lived in the Northland my entire life and never had a problem. I always leave my cars unlocked and sometimes even my house. I dont even think twice about it. I also walk/run at all times of night without a worry as does my wife.

[luzianne]

Now see, some of you (one in particular) get very offended if someone chooses Johnson County over North Kansas City. And yet you are the same one(s) who talk trash about Johnson Countians all the time. Doesn't spark sharp have a right to make observations about certain areas she has looked into living? Why bash her for her observations? She has come to the same conclusion I came to years ago, and without any help from me. When I saw she had decided on temporary housing on the Missouri side I kept my mouth shut, although *I* would not have chosen that area. Not because it is all that dangerous, but because it doesn't appeal to me. But that's me, so I said nothing. Turns out she wasn't that impressed with it once she got there. I know each person has to decide for themselves where they are comfortable. I am comfortable with Johnson County. If wanting to live in the safest area they can find, the area where there is the least crime, makes someone "obsessed with safety," then I don't see anything wrong with being "obsessed with safety." Low crime would be at the top of my list. Some of you may be entirely comfortable in areas with higher crime stats. I prefer to avoid those places. Not because I'm "scared," but because I know of places where it's peaceful and quiet and crime free and I prefer to be in those places where I don't give crime a second thought. Yeah, crime can happen anywhere. But I live in a place with zero murder rate and that works for me.

[sparksharp]

Originally Posted by luzianne

Another vote for Johnson County.

Yes! The crime stats in the Northland didn't get acceptable until you got out to Smithville. There was one part of Liberty that looked ok, but other than that the Northland looked pretty high on crime...at least according to the stats.

Originally Posted by northbound74

I don't know where those crime stats come from. They sound way, way off.

There's crime statistics here on City-Data that I find to be much more accurate, based on all the places I've lived. The 'feel' of all those places coincide very well to their stats.
According to those, towns such as Gladstone and Parkville have crime rates just as low, if not lower in some years, than Leawood or Lenexa. Most of the Northland is very safe.
Personally, I like the Northland because it's not so crowded and congested.

I agree with you that it's not as congested, but I didn't pull these crime stats out of my ass either!

Originally Posted by kcmo

If you are seriously afraid to live in the Northland because you don't feel safe. I can't help you. I mean wow. I can't even fathom this. Parkville? Park Hill? Olathe? Seriously?

I don't even understand. Sounds like you really need to move to a very rural area or something if you are that freaked out.

BTW, I don't look at crime stats. Have not looked at a single crime stat since I have been looking for homes in metro DC. I find out about the areas by asking people and simply go there and getting a feel for the area. I can tell you that if I'm in an area even remotely as nice as any of Platte County, crime stats do not even come to mind. Crime stats are so misleading. If there is a lot of retail nearby it could bump crime stats, if there are some apartments it could. Good luck where ever you end up, but if you are that freaked out by things like that, south JoCo is your place. You will be happy there and fit in well .

Where ever you end up, try to enjoy the metro. You won't get shot or called a yankee.

Just because I'm using all the tools available to me in making a wise purchasing decision, doesn't mean I'm "freaked out". As I mentioned earlier to you awhile back, it seems pretty haphazard to make a decision about such a large purchase without taking everything into consideration. Let's face it...resale is gonna be better in a low crime area and it just makes good financial sense to take that into consideration when making a home purchase.

Originally Posted by Samantha S

sparksharp doesn't strike me as as someone who is "obsessed with safety" or "freaked out". I think you are characterizing her unfairly. (kcmo, you question the validity of her stats, but then say you don't even look at stats )

She has a choice. She can live pretty much anywhere in the metro. She wants to choose the best area for her and she's simply using crime stats as one of her measuring sticks. I agree that stats must be put into proper context, but using them seems a reasonable thing to do.

If you are completely unfamiliar in a new area and don't really know anyone, you can't go around and "feel" all of them. You have to rely on "data" because as this forum amply demonstrates, opinions are quite subjective!!!

Ahhhhhh...the voice of reason!

Originally Posted by kcmo

I can see being somewhat concerned with moving to Raytown or something and Raytown in a safe area. But Platte County? Olathe? Blows my mind. I just don't see how people can live in such fear. It's just nuts.

I guess living in KC all my life, I know these areas and have lived in Platte County and have relatives there. Nobody ever talks about how "safe" it is. Because it never crosses anybody's mind. I just can't comprehend that way of thinking. I understand a lot of people are like her. I just don't get it. These are the typs of people that would probably be deathly affraid to even stop at a walgreens in Independence or Grandview. Totally safe areas with normal people and nice stores, because they think they will be a crime victom. I simply can not comprehend it. But that's just me.

How does making a wise purchase choice based on information equate to "living in fear"?

To me, it's no different than consulting Consumer Reports when buying a refrigerator or a car!

Originally Posted by RjRobb2

What zip codes did you look up? If you give me those, I can clear them up for you.

As I have mentioned before, I have lived in the Northland my entire life and never had a problem. I always leave my cars unlocked and sometimes even my house. I dont even think twice about it. I also walk/run at all times of night without a worry as does my wife.

I looked up too many zip codes to even mention! As stated previously, the only decent zip codes I found on the Missouri side in the Northland were up in Smithville and a certain part of Liberty. Anything south of that failed to be below the National average, and was usually quite a bit higher than the National average.

For your reference, I used Reece and Nichols website. You can pull up a zip code and then click on a house. Then click on the "neighborhood" option for that house...then click on the "quality of life" option and the crime stats are listed according to the zip code.

I went through a ton of zip codes and even some in Overland park failed my criteria...which is being "BELOW" the National average on both property crimes and violent crimes.

Again...I didn't pull these stats out of my ass! It is what it is! Sad too because I had three houses that were in the final running as far as purchasing, but the crime rates in those zip codes were too high after I checked into it. So...at that point...I threw those three houses out and now I'm starting from scratch on the house hunting! It's frustrating as hell...but I wanna make a wise purchasing choice so I'll continue to do my homework!

A house is probably the biggest single purchase anyone ever makes in their life. Doesn't it only make sense to spend some time doing the homework necessary to make a wise choice rather than fly by the seat of your pants making a decision on emotion only?

[RjRobb2]

I dont think you understand. Those stats are completely bogus if they are saying that most of the Northland is above the national average on crime as well as Olathe and parts of OP.

Other than living in some small town in the boondocks, you are not going to get much safer.

I could honestly leave all 4 of my car doors open on both of my cars overnight and not a thing would be touched. If anything, one of my neighbors would probably close them for me.

Those stats you looked at are full of ****. Dont get me wrong, crime can happen anywhere, anytime. But, to not buy in the Northland, Olathe, or even OP because of crime rates is beyond ridiculous. It's laughable. You seriously will not find safer areas around large metropolitan areas than those.

You really shouldnot verbally tell anyone that lives in Kansas City that you are choosing not to look in those areas due to crime rates because even the nicest person will probably laugh in your face.

I'm not trying to be rude but you seriously cannot even understand how absurd it is to not pursue those areas due to crime.

[northbound74]

Originally Posted by RjRobb2

I dont think you understand. Those stats are completely bogus if they are saying that most of the Northland is above the national average on crime as well as Olathe and parts of OP.

Other than living in some small town in the boondocks, you are not going to get much safer.

I could honestly leave all 4 of my car doors open on both of my cars overnight and not a thing would be touched. If anything, one of my neighbors would probably close them for me.

Those stats you looked at are full of ****. Dont get me wrong, crime can happen anywhere, anytime. But, to not buy in the Northland, Olathe, or even OP because of crime rates is beyond ridiculous. It's laughable. You seriously will not find safer areas around large metropolitan areas than those.

You really shouldnot verbally tell anyone that lives in Kansas City that you are choosing not to look in those areas due to crime rates because even the nicest person will probably laugh in your face.

I'm not trying to be rude but you seriously cannot even understand how absurd it is to not pursue those areas due to crime.

Agreed. Very good post.

Those crime stats go against every other crime statistics I've ever seen for the area. The methodology must be vastly different, and they don't seem remotely accurate.

[luzianne]

Originally Posted by RjRobb2

You really shouldnot verbally tell anyone that lives in Kansas City that you are choosing not to look in those areas due to crime rates because even the nicest person will probably laugh in your face.

I'm not trying to be rude but you seriously cannot even understand how absurd it is to not pursue those areas due to crime.

I wouldn't laugh in her face.

And the part in red - So she should just disregard any crime stats she sees? Crime is one of the most important if not THE most important factor for me. I think if you live in a certain area you are familiar with it and used to it so to you it's familiar ground and safe. But the numbers don't lie. If I can choose an area with only 5 violent crimes a year, or one with none, guess which one I'm going to choose?

[Samantha S]

Originally Posted by RjRobb2

I'm not trying to be rude but you seriously cannot even understand how absurd it is to not pursue those areas due to crime.

Maybe not.

Once you have lived in an area for a long time, you don't think about certain things anymore. You automatically know which areas to avoid, you have a feel for the demographic, you relate, and so you feel quite safe. Sparksharp is completely new here and doesn't have that advantage.

Of course many areas of the Northland, North OP and Olathe are quite safe. But the social and economic diversity in those areas does increase crime rates. It just does. It doesn't mean NO ONE should ever buy a house in those areas. Certainly not. No one is saying that.

I bought my first house in North OP years ago. I felt perfectly safe. But when we bought a house last summer, that same area wasn't even in the running, even though there were houses there that we liked.

The reason is that there are other areas we felt were "better" in terms of what we were looking for. One of the things we were looking for and that sparksharp has mentioned is resale. That's a biggie! Now perception plays a HUGE role in resale. And crime rates (regardless of how safe certain individual neighborhoods might actually be) play a huge role in the perception of an area.

Bottom line: 1) It's not unreasonable to gather as much info as you can, and 2) Looking for an area where the crime stats are low doesn't mean you are paranoid about safety.