Moving to Kansas City - Best areas to live

[Dirtyeggroll]

I will be moving to Kansas City in the late Spring and am wanting to start getting a sense of the housing market.

 

If you could pick an area/surrounding city to live, where would you start looking?

 

My only necessary restriction is that I have to be less than 25 minutes away from the KUMC hospital under ideal traffic conditions (early mornings/late at night).

 

Obviously, I would like to be as close to a productive body of water as possible, somewhere I could drop the boat in a < 10 minute drive  from where I would live.

 

Currently, I have been looking at the area near Wyandotte County Lake and the area ~halfway between Longview Lake or Jacomo.

 

Anyone have any thoughts or suggestions to areas they would live? Thanks.

[Bluebasser86]

You could be my neighbor, they're moving soon, and they have a 3 car garage so you'd have a spot to park a boat ? I have 5 productive bodies of water within 20 minutes, more if I buy a JOCO permit. 

 

Western Wyandotte county isn't bad, I'd just stay west of I-435. You can find some pretty good deals in Shawnee right now, but you can find a lot of houses with problems and there's some not so great parts too.

[Dirtyeggroll]

4 hours ago, Bluebasser86 said:

You could be my neighbor, they're moving soon, and they have a 3 car garage so you'd have a spot to park a boat ? I have 5 productive bodies of water within 20 minutes, more if I buy a JOCO permit. 

Sounds like a place that fits my parameters...

[Chowderhead]

15 hours ago, Dirtyeggroll said:

I will be moving to Kansas City in the late Spring

Good luck with the move. Will need to pick your brain on fishing spots before you leave Omaha ?

[Dirtyeggroll]

Just now, Chowderhead said:

Good luck with the move. Will need to pick your brain on fishing spots before you leave Omaha ?

I will be here in Omaha until at least May. Plenty of time between ice-out and the time I move to share what I know...

 

Ice-out is so close!

[Fishes in trees]

How much money?  Buy or rent?  Urban or suburban?   There are some very nice subdivision lakes that are VERY private, and kinda pricey,  both on the Kansas side and the Missouri side.  Some if not all of those subdivision lakes have kinda restrictive zebra mussel regulations, where it is just easier to keep a boat somewhere on the lake than it is to trailer it.  Bluebasser might have a good option, I'd check that out for sure.  25 minutes from Gardner, Kansas to KU Med Center is pushing it any time of the year.  On the Kansas side of the metro area there is alot of road building going on right now, supposedly with plans to do much more.

Concerning the areas you mentioned, don't know anything about the Wyandotte lake area - other than I've driven through it once or twice and parts of it looked nice & well maintained and other parts didn't.

Longview Lake/Jacomo lake area - good luck getting to KUMed in 25 minutes.  There are lots of nice areas - lots more not so nice areas, if you want to go semi-rural/suburban I'd expand the search area to 40 minutes.

[Dirtyeggroll]

3 hours ago, Fishes in trees said:

How much money?  Buy or rent?  Urban or suburban?   There are some very nice subdivision lakes that are VERY private, and kinda pricey,  both on the Kansas side and the Missouri side.  Some if not all of those subdivision lakes have kinda restrictive zebra mussel regulations, where it is just easier to keep a boat somewhere on the lake than it is to trailer it.  Bluebasser might have a good option, I'd check that out for sure.  25 minutes from Gardner, Kansas to KU Med Center is pushing it any time of the year.  On the Kansas side of the metro area there is alot of road building going on right now, supposedly with plans to do much more.

Concerning the areas you mentioned, don't know anything about the Wyandotte lake area - other than I've driven through it once or twice and parts of it looked nice & well maintained and other parts didn't.

Longview Lake/Jacomo lake area - good luck getting to KUMed in 25 minutes.  There are lots of nice areas - lots more not so nice areas, if you want to go semi-rural/suburban I'd expand the search area to 40 minutes.

Thanks for the info.

 

Can’t really expand my search to beyond, 25 minutes. I am already pushing it at 25 minutes. I will be starting residency at KUMC and will have to be close for days I am on call which will be every 3rd day.

 

The max of our budget will be less than $300k. $250k sounds much more comfortable.

 

Much prefer suburban to urban. 
 

A 3-4 bedroom/ 2+ bathroom house with a 3 car garage would be ideal, but probably unrealistic or unlikely, given the parameters.

 

It looks like the Gardner area would be a bit out of range.

[mc6524]

I lived in Omaha for forty years. Before miving to the KC area after retiring?  I was in healthcare.  Sounds like you’re graduating from medical school either UNMC or Creighto n and have to take call at KUMC.

 

Overland Parkarea is very nice, but pricey, But if you have to live that close that might be your best option.

[Dirtyeggroll]

1 minute ago, mc6524 said:

I lived in Omaha for forty years. Before miving to the KC area after retiring?  I was in healthcare.  Sounds like you’re graduating from medical school either UNMC or Creighto n and have to take call at KUMC.

 

Overland Parkarea is very nice, but pricey, But if you have to live that close that might be your best option.

Love Omaha. Finishing up an MD/PhD here soon.

 

KC has better options for the next step in my training and puts me a little closer to family.

 

I’ll keep an eye on the Overland Park area.

[mc6524]

2 hours ago, Dirtyeggroll said:

Love Omaha. Finishing up an MD/PhD here soon.

 

KC has better options for the next step in my training and puts me a little closer to family.

 

I’ll keep an eye on the Overland Park area.

Sounds like you’re graduatig from UNMC.  I have a fishing buddy who Ifish tourneys with who has a son going there.  Matter-of-fact you sound just like him.  Might your father’s first name be Rob?

[Dirtyeggroll]

13 minutes ago, mc6524 said:

Sounds like you’re graduatig from UNMC.  I have a fishing buddy who Ifish tourneys with who has a son going there.  Matter-of-fact you sound just like him.  Might your father’s first name be Rob?

You mean this guy? ...

never heard of him.
 

Might your name be ... Mike??? 

[mc6524]

Yes it is .  Nice to meet you.

[Bluebasser86]

Yeah, I missed that part. I have to drive to KU Med when I'm on hospital duty for work sometimes. You're not making that in 25 minutes from Gardner.

 

Shawnee would be my pick. Traffic just seems so much worse if you cross state lines. You can find somewhere with fairly quick access to 435 and north of 75th street will put you past where the congestion on the interstate gets the worst and you'll be able to get to KU in less than 25 minutes no problem. You'll be a little further drive to any bodies of water without buying a special permit, but there really isn't anywhere within 25 minutes of KU you can make that happen. You might be able to find something in Overland Park or Olathe that fits your guidelines, but it's going to be tough, everything just gets more expensive as you head south into JOCO it seems until you hit Gardner. Not all the bells and whistles here yet, so things aren't quite as expensive yet.

 

https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/5412-Millridge-St-Shawnee-KS-66226/75539963_zpid/

[Alex LaFave]

On 2/24/2020 at 2:41 PM, Dirtyeggroll said:

Thanks for the info.

 

Can’t really expand my search to beyond, 25 minutes. I am already pushing it at 25 minutes. I will be starting residency at KUMC and will have to be close for days I am on call which will be every 3rd day.

 

The max of our budget will be less than $300k. $250k sounds much more comfortable.

 

Much prefer suburban to urban. 
 

A 3-4 bedroom/ 2+ bathroom house with a 3 car garage would be ideal, but probably unrealistic or unlikely, given the parameters.

 

It looks like the Gardner area would be a bit out of range.

You are not out of line. Western Wyandotte county (Namely Piper) has been mentioned above -this is where i live and about the only place in Wyandotte county (other than perhaps Bonner Springs) which i would recommend. Piper is very suburban - i see a farm out my back door and has great schools. Wyandotte county lake is just a few miles from my door. I purchased our house (2013 build 3 bedroom 2.5 bath with 3 car garage) in 2018 for $270K. Wyandotte county taxes can be high - but so is Johnson county. PM me if you would like more details

[Bluebasser86]

On 2/26/2020 at 1:56 PM, Alex LaFave said:

You are not out of line. Western Wyandotte county (Namely Piper) has been mentioned above -this is where i live and about the only place in Wyandotte county (other than perhaps Bonner Springs) which i would recommend. Piper is very suburban - i see a farm out my back door and has great schools. Wyandotte county lake is just a few miles from my door. I purchased our house (2013 build 3 bedroom 2.5 bath with 3 car garage) in 2018 for $270K. Wyandotte county taxes can be high - but so is Johnson county. PM me if you would like more details

My parents live in Piper and that's where I lived through my late teens/early 20's. It's a nice area, close to Wyco lake and Cabela's. Lots of shopping and dining at the Legend's for the family. Just don't go much east of 435 and you're good. Pretty quick to I70 and usually an easy run to downtown from there.

[Dirtyeggroll]

Anyone recommend a good realtor?

[Bluebasser86]

16 hours ago, Dirtyeggroll said:

Anyone recommend a good realtor?

We really liked our guy. He's a military vet and on the city council in Gardner now. He's half crazy, I think that's why I liked him, he didn't talk or act like the realtors we've had in the past but he worked hard for us and didn't try to just sell us a house to get a commission check. He stopped by the other day to drop off batteries for our smoke detectors because it's about time they should be changed, just because I guess.

https://www.facebook.com/RichSells4you/

[pauldconyers]

Just depends on what side of the state line you want to live on. Lots of stuff in the mileage radius and your price range. Overland Park and the Olathe area are good on the KS side. So too are some new areas over by Cabelas. On the Missouri side in towards the North in Smithville is right near Smithville lake and others up that way. Liberty is nice too. Kansas City north of the river in zip codes 64154, 64155, 64156 and 64157 have a lot of stuff perfect for you too. South if KC parts of Raymore and even Belton would be great for you. East of KC where I live Blue Springs, Grain Valley or Lee's Summit would be great options. If you have kids research those school districts.

[Dirtyeggroll]

55 minutes ago, pauldconyers said:

Just depends on what side of the state line you want to live on. Lots of stuff in the mileage radius and your price range. Overland Park and the Olathe area are good on the KS side. So too are some new areas over by Cabelas. On the Missouri side in towards the North in Smithville is right near Smithville lake and others up that way. Liberty is nice too. Kansas City north of the river in zip codes 64154, 64155, 64156 and 64157 have a lot of stuff perfect for you too. South if KC parts of Raymore and even Belton would be great for you. East of KC where I live Blue Springs, Grain Valley or Lee's Summit would be great options. If you have kids research those school districts.

Sounds like I should just hire you as my agent.

[pauldconyers]

1 hour ago, Dirtyeggroll said:

Sounds like I should just hire you as my agent.

For my job I get all over town and am in homes all over the city. I have a pretty good idea of what is where. But while I would accept your commission I doubt I would be much help finding you a specific place LOL

[Dirtyeggroll]

Well we made an offer on this place today based on a virtual tour. Man I hope I’m not messing up. I don’t like not seeing it in person but everything else we’ve like has been sold before we get a chance to see it.

 

Anyone have any insight to that area/neighborhood?

 

https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/5725-Wyoming-Ave-N-Kansas-City-MO-64118/71154903_zpid/

 

 

[pauldconyers]

19 minutes ago, Dirtyeggroll said:

Well we made an offer on this place today based on a virtual tour. Man I hope I’m not messing up. I don’t like not seeing it in person but everything else we’ve like has been sold before we get a chance to see it.

 

Anyone have any insight to that area/neighborhood?

 

https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/5725-Wyoming-Ave-N-Kansas-City-MO-64118/71154903_zpid/

 

 

I think that area should be fine. Just to the west of there is the elementary school of you have kids of that age. The circled area is an intersection that they have completely blocked and redoing for WAY too long. If it's done you're good, if it is still not you will be hating life for a while as the only real way to get to it would be a big detour each time to get in and out. The star indicates a large area of duplex and quadplexes. I guess the majority of people there are OK but possibly more traffic than you'd ideally like. One of the great things about the Northland (and your house specifically) is you always seem to have quick access to highways and could get about anywhere fairly easily. I assume at time you'd be in the flight path fairls regularly as you would not be too far from the city's main airport.

[Dirtyeggroll]

2 hours ago, pauldconyers said:

I think that area should be fine. Just to the west of there is the elementary school of you have kids of that age. The circled area is an intersection that they have completely blocked and redoing for WAY too long. If it's done you're good, if it is still not you will be hating life for a while as the only real way to get to it would be a big detour each time to get in and out. The star indicates a large area of duplex and quadplexes. I guess the majority of people there are OK but possibly more traffic than you'd ideally like. One of the great things about the Northland (and your house specifically) is you always seem to have quick access to highways and could get about anywhere fairly easily. I assume at time you'd be in the flight path fairls regularly as you would not be too far from the city's main airport.

Awesome info! Wish me luck. Offer is in

[Russ E]

Nearly anywhere in the Northlake is a pretty good neighborhood. Biggest issue I have had in  the northland and western kck, where I currently live, is the HOAs . They can sometimes be a pain. One nice thing is , Smithville reservoir is just 1/2 hour North of you.

[Dirtyeggroll]

16 minutes ago, Russ E said:

Nearly anywhere in the Northlake is a pretty good neighborhood. Biggest issue I have had in  the northland and western kck, where I currently live, is the HOAs . They can sometimes be a pain. One nice thing is , Smithville reservoir is just 1/2 hour North of you.

No HOA in the neighborhood of this house. I’ve been pretty spoiled up in Omaha being 15 minutes from 5 different productive bodies of water and 5 minutes from a big bass lake. That dream I was living is going to die hard.