Overland Park thoughts/opinions... (Kansas City, Shawnee: for sale, real estate, apartment complexes)

[jjisu]

Hello All,
I was wondering if anyone would be kind enough to give me some information.

I was just informed by my employer that i will be moving to overland park ks for work.

I was wondering if any one could give me any advice as to what are some good places to live.
We are looking to buy but are not totally ruling out renting if there is a highly recommended property.

My wife and I are in our late 20's and enjoy going out on the town, but i really dont want to commute 30 minutes to work everyday from downtown KC.

We were looking at a house around 85th street and Antioch. Anyone have any info on this area of town.

Or would you recommend some other area...
Thanks in advance. Any help is much appreciated

[Samantha S]

Originally Posted by jjisu

Hello All,
I was wondering if anyone would be kind enough to give me some information.

I was just informed by my employer that i will be moving to overland park ks for work.

I was wondering if any one could give me any advice as to what are some good places to live.
We are looking to buy but are not totally ruling out renting if there is a highly recommended property.

My wife and I are in our late 20's and enjoy going out on the town, but i really dont want to commute 30 minutes to work everyday from downtown KC.

We were looking at a house around 85th street and Antioch. Anyone have any info on this area of town.

Or would you recommend some other area...
Thanks in advance. Any help is much appreciated

That area of OP is just fine. Houses in that area are 20-30+ years old - some from the 50's -- they don't have the trendy new floor plans - but they aren't cookie cutter cheap construction either and many of them are very charming. You will find everything from 2 bedroom starter homes to 4 bedroom within a mile or two radius. There are also some very nice apartment complexes. Rent will likely be as much or more than a mortgage payment though, so no real advantage to that.

I know a wonderful real estate agent who works extensively in the area. I'd be happy to hook you up, just PM me if you don't already have one. They'll be clamoring all over you!

Truth is, you really can't go wrong anywhere in the OP, Lenexa, Merriam, area. There are great schools - it's a wonderful group of suburbs - and it's easily within reach of everything the city offers as well.

Welcome!!!

[kcmo]

I would look into the Waldo/Brookside area if you are young and don't have kids yet. You will be around a lot of other people in the same demographic and only about 15-20 minutes from OP, but much closer to city. But that's just me.

But OP has some of the nicest suburban apartment complexes in the metro. The area is loaded with tons and tons of apartments, mostly along 435 and 69 highways.

Also look around the Downtown Overland Park area. There is an older complex just north of Downtown OP that is ok but that is a nice area as well.

[luzianne]

Originally Posted by jjisu

Hello All,
I was wondering if anyone would be kind enough to give me some information.

I was just informed by my employer that i will be moving to overland park ks for work.

I was wondering if any one could give me any advice as to what are some good places to live.
We are looking to buy but are not totally ruling out renting if there is a highly recommended property.

My wife and I are in our late 20's and enjoy going out on the town, but i really dont want to commute 30 minutes to work everyday from downtown KC.

We were looking at a house around 85th street and Antioch. Anyone have any info on this area of town.

Or would you recommend some other area...
Thanks in advance. Any help is much appreciated

Overland Park is always on the list of Money Magazine's Best Places To Live. Every year it makes the list. Southern Overland Park is newer and more upscale. 85th and Antioch is in old Overland Park, but definitely not a bad place to live at all. Safe, low crime. Like Samantha said, the houses in that area are going to be about 50 years old probably, which is no big deal. I live in a 50 year old house in Prairie Village (next to Overland Park) and before the economy and housing market went south, houses were never on the market long.

But pretty much anywhere in Johnson County the neighborhoods are fine and the crime rate is low. You could go to www.reeceandnichols.com to look for houses for sale. Prairie Village is a very desirable area. Southern Overland Park is very newer an upscale if that's what you are looking for. Check out Prairie Village, Overland Park, Leawood, Lenexa, Shawnee.

Really, there are some of us who would not live anywhere but Johnson County, in large part because of the low crime, good schools, nice neighborhoods and neighbors who maintain their property and property that rises in value.

[denverian]

I grew up right near there and went to SM West HS, so I know the area well. The houses are very cheap - my parents sold the house I grew up in for $130K a couple years ago, a 3 bdr. ranch. The yards are huge, and I have horrible memories of mowing ours in the heat, humidity, and bugs. The only time people in OP seem to use their lawns is when they're mowing them!

I'd say it's just a generic, inner-ring suburb. Boring if you like night life, non chain restaurants, and hate strip malls. Neighbors tend to keep to themselves - my parents moved after living in their house for over 30 years and didn't even say goodbye to any neighbors - that's how distant people seem to be around there. Might be typical of any suburb though.

[Samantha S]

Originally Posted by denverian

I grew up right near there and went to SM West HS, so I know the area well. The houses are very cheap - my parents sold the house I grew up in for $130K a couple years ago, a 3 bdr. ranch. The yards are huge, and I have horrible memories of mowing ours in the heat, humidity, and bugs. The only time people in OP seem to use their lawns is when they're mowing them!

I'd say it's just a generic, inner-ring suburb. Boring if you like night life, non chain restaurants, and hate strip malls. Neighbors tend to keep to themselves - my parents moved after living in their house for over 30 years and didn't even say goodbye to any neighbors - that's how distant people seem to be around there. Might be typical of any suburb though.

I agree it's a pretty generic suburb. But it's a great place to live and more exciting areas to visit, shop, eat and play are only minutes away.

As for neighbors, one of the reasons we chose not to move recently was because we are so close to so many of our neighbors.

Some of my neighbors are like family and some I never see because they choose to keep to themselves. I think how "social" the neighborhood is depends on your own perspective and initiative. I've never found any of my neighbors to be "unfriendly".

[cazboy]

Hi, I am currently watching this thread with a lot of interest because my wife and I are probably going to be relocating to Overland Park, like the person who started this thread. Our kids are most likely relocating there, and life events are pulling us to be near family. We are currently longtime homeowners living in Prescott Valley Arizona. Until we learn more about Overland Park, we will be looking for an apartment to rent there while keeping our current house. Hoping to learn more about the city of Overland Park.

...Doug H.

[Samantha S]

Originally Posted by cazboy

Hi, I am currently watching this thread with a lot of interest because my wife and I are probably going to be relocating to Overland Park, like the person who started this thread. Our kids are most likely relocating there, and life events are pulling us to be near family. We are currently longtime homeowners living in Prescott Valley Arizona. Until we learn more about Overland Park, we will be looking for an apartment to rent there while keeping our current house. Hoping to learn more about the city of Overland Park.

...Doug H.

Welcome! I've lived and worked in the OP and surrounding area for almost 20 years and I have kids in school. Fee free to post specific questions. It's a great area, I love it here.

[alwaystraveling25]

Originally Posted by jjisu

Hello All,
I was wondering if anyone would be kind enough to give me some information.

I was just informed by my employer that i will be moving to overland park ks for work.

I was wondering if any one could give me any advice as to what are some good places to live.
We are looking to buy but are not totally ruling out renting if there is a highly recommended property.

My wife and I are in our late 20's and enjoy going out on the town, but i really dont want to commute 30 minutes to work everyday from downtown KC.

We were looking at a house around 85th street and Antioch. Anyone have any info on this area of town.

Or would you recommend some other area...
Thanks in advance. Any help is much appreciated

Not sure of the age of some other posters on here, but I am 26, and was 25 when I lived in Lenexa (For the OP: suburb adjacent to Overland Park). My boyfriend and I (he was 30) spent nearly every weekend (and some weeknights) driving to Missouri, for either the Plaza, Westport, or Waldo/Brookside. When we stayed in Johnson County, we just went to a movie or out to dinner...the nightlife/entertainment is much more limited, since Johnson County is definitely more conservative and family-oriented.

Don't get me wrong: living in Overland Park is great if you are family minded and plan on having children soon. However, if you are mid-20's and aren't concerned with school districts and neighborhood churches, I think you will find a much better fit on the Missouri side.

I think of it this way: Living KCMO (whether it be Waldo/Brookside or somewhere else) is like living in the City of Chicago: fun restaurants, bars, and a multitude of things to do. Living in Overland Park is like living in the Chicago suburbs: lots of family activities, great schools, huge churches...definitely more conducive to "settling down."

Where are you moving from? Kansas City traffic may be heavier or lighter for you, depending on what you are used to. In no way will you have an hour commute to work like some of my friends in Chicago do!