The Border War: Who wins when it comes to real estate in Kansas and Missouri?

The Border War: Who wins when it comes to real estate in Kansas and Missouri?

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The oldest rivalry west of the Mississippi may come to an end this Saturday when the Jayhawks and Tigers meet for the last time in Allen Fieldhouse.  While we apply the term “war” loosely today to business poaching and sports, the deep divide between the two states seems as literal as State Line road.  What Kansan doesn’t hesitate, if only for a moment, to purchase a home with a 64131 zip code?  What Missourian isn’t considered a traitor for moving into Leawood, steps from the Missouri border?  In the spirit of fanning the flames just a little bit longer in this saga of codependent animosity, it’s time to see how the states stack up when it comes to housing.

Attractive to young singles/couples
Advantage: Kansas City Missouri.  Downtown development, along with the crossroads and several pockets of very inexpensive housing makes Missouri more attractive for first-time buyers or those wanting a nightlife within walking distance.

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Attractive to families
Advantage: Johnson County Kansas.  With several nationally recognized school districts to choose from, the nod goes to Johnson County Kansas.  In addition, the newer housing stock in Johnson County Kansas better accommodates families with modern conveniences and plenty of room.  Couple that with state of the art recreational facilities for Johnson County kids and it’s hard to beat.

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Cost of housing
Push.  Housing is slightly more expensive on the Johnson County  Kansas side but not significantly and property taxes are also comparable.

Housing and neighborhood character are too subjective to rate.  It just depends on individual taste.  In Johnson County Kansas, the housing stock is newer than on the Kansas City Missouri side, with most “older” homes built in the 1950s and 60s.  Missouri has homes dating to the 19th century and everything in between.  A pivotal difference between the two states is Kansas City Missouri is more of a neighborhood state and Kansas has more planned development or subdivisions.  A different builder could build each and every home in a Missouri neighborhood, making each unique.  What Kansas lacks in individuality among homes it makes up for with code enforcement designed to keep home values up.

The differences between the states ensure a variety of choices for metro area homebuyers,making everyone a winner!