Make a quick comparison of housing and living conditions across the major cities of the nation. Choose almost any index that is commonly used to measure the quality of life in a community, especially commerce, industry, schools, cultural activity and park systems. In almost all cases you will note an inverse relationship between any of these indices and the housing affordability index. Generally speaking, communities with the most affordable homes offer a lower quality of life. The Greater Kansas City Region is a sterling exception to this rule. Although this metropolitan area boasts more fountains than Rome, is a bastion of industry, and home to major cultural venues, Kansas City homes are surprisingly affordable. The Greater Kansas City real estate market gives you more home for your dollar, and a higher quality of life for your investment.
Affordable Housing in the Greater Kansas City Region
A recent study was conducted to compare costs of housing across the United States. A standard subject home was used for comparisons. The single-family home was 2,200 finished square feet, 4 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, and included a family room and double garage. The home was located in a neighborhood that might be typical of an area that would attract a typical, middle-management transferee.
The average price of all homes surveyed was $422,343 and the average subject house price in Kansas City MO was only $238,875. Lawrence Kansas came in second place at $232,000. The average price in Leavenworth/Lansing Kansas was only $212,833. Similar Overland Park KA homes averaged a jaw-dropping $201,650! Kansas City homes will give you more space, amenities, and value than you will find in most major metropolitan areas.
Sometimes averaged statistics can be misleading because there may be a handful of homes on the extreme ends of the price spectrum that may skew the results. Yet, with median price studies, Kansas City homes look even better from this point of view. Median prices for Greater Kansas City homes (Missouri and Kansas sides combined,) came in just under $160,000.
The Kansas City real estate market also seems to be more resilient and promising compared to most U.S. metropolitan areas. There doesn’t seem to be the boom-bust extremes that are seen elsewhere. A diverse and vibrant economy is probably the main reason for the relative stability of the Kansas City real estate market.
A High Quality of Life
One way to gauge the quality of life in a particular city is to look at its park system. Purchase almost any Kansas City home, and you will be close to a boulevard or park. In fact, the Greater Kansas City area has more boulevards than any city in the world, except for Paris.
From the beginning, the city leaders recognized the importance of parks to community life. Swope’s Park is a case in point; it is the oldest Kansas City park, and the second largest urban park in the United States, and is home to the Kansas City Zoological Park and an IMAX Theatre. More recent park developments include the Country Club Recreation Area containing over 7,000 acres for every outdoor sport imaginable, including hunting, fishing, swimming, sailing and more. Every city and county in this region is festooned with an an abundance of parks, playgrounds and trails. Many of them are graced by limestone bluffs, lakes, streams, and rivers. Kansas City boasts more than 200 parks over 9,000 acres, and is home to 27 lakes and 16 parks with pools. With more than 107 tennis courts, 135 ball diamonds, and miles and miles of bikeways and trails, there is always something to do outdoors in Kansas City.
Sports spectators in the area are avid fans of Royals baseball, Chiefs football, and can even enjoy NASCAR racing at the newly built speedway. However, the City is most famous for its food and music. Kansas City is well known for a rich history of Jazz that began in the area around 18th and Vine. If you are a Jazz fan, you will not want to miss touring the Kansas City Jazz Museum.
A Pro-Business Community
A healthy local economy is the basis of a high standard of living. Kansas City is a case in point. This is the home of major companies like Hallmark Cards, Yellow Corp, Sprint, Russell Stover, and American Century. There are also factories here that produce automobiles and Harley Davidson motorcycles. This is a major distribution center for the Midwest, and is home to the world’s largest underground storage facilities and sub-surface business complex. An excellent infrastructure and public transit system is an integral part of the health of the local business environment. The diverse economy and the array of thriving businesses means that the Greater Kansas City region enjoys a low-cost-of-living and a low unemployment rate. These factors all help support the value of any Kansas City real estate purchase you make.
Finding Kansas City Homes
This is an excellent time for purchasing Kansas City real estate. The interest rates are at historic lows, the prices are great, and the inventory is large. Even if you have narrowed down your home search to a particular type of property, such as a downtown loft, a suburban townhome, a foreclosure, investment property or a single-family home in one of the surrounding cities, there is an endless number of choices and options. It is hard to know where to start. However, a seasoned Kansas City REALTOR(R) can help you sort through all of the options to make the best choices. My goal as your real estate agent is to provide you with the best possible information so you can make the best decision possible. I know the Greater Kansas City real estate markets, the schools, and the community amenities that most closely suit your requirements. I live and work here, so I am personally and professionally invested in ensuring that your next home will give you the best value for your investment. My business is based primarily on referrals and repeat businesses. This means that client satisfaction is of paramount importance to my continued success.
Selling Kansas City Real Estate
Thinking of selling? Please give me a call at 913 488 8300 for a free consultation. I provide a no-nonsense, objective market analysis at absolutely no cost or obligation to you. Data is based on the most comprehensive past-sales reports and an analysis of current conditions for the market. My goal is to get top dollar for your property in the shortest amount of time, with the least amount of inconvenience to you. Although I enjoy the best hi-tech and traditional marketing tools available, my service ethic is what my home sellers have attributed to their successful transactions. As a result, I have been recognized as one of the top four Kansas City real estate agents. However, I am not resting on my laurels, and will spare no effort to sell your home with a transaction with terms most favorable to you.
Thanks for stopping by! I hope the site is helpful to you. You may also want to check out the blog for more information about market conditions and local events. I want you to enjoy living in the Greater Kansas City Region as much as I do!
All My Best,
Sharon Sigman
CRS, ABR, SRES, CSP, e-PRO
