Fields of Waving Tall Grass
Several years ago, I traveled with my boss to Overland Park, Kansas to provide staffing for a conference of state money officials. We landed in Kansas City, Missouri and had our map printed from Mapquest clutched in our hands to find our way to this prairie community.
We hopped on a bypass from the airport which apparently goes right through some major conservation areas, including what I believe may have been about a hundred miles of the famous tall grass you find in this amazing prairie state. After about 10 minutes of driving through this natural area, my boss started yelling, "You got the wrong directions! We'll never find our way out of here!" It was like a reverse Wizard of Oz moment when we wanted to find our way out of being lost in the Kansas prairie and back to where we knew there was bottled water and shopping malls.
We finally emerged from the wilderness and drove right to our modern-day hotel, none the worse for the wear. What we learned is that Kansas really does have a slice of prairie life – just like you'd imagine from the movies and books. We also learned it is a hub for the arts, gaming, and entertainment communities – very family friendly, but also attractive to young professionals.
Housing is a little high in Overland Park, with prices averaging about $240,000. But at these prices, you'll find real estate with a lot of square footage, plenty of bedrooms and bathrooms, and a fairly low foreclosure rate. In fact, there are only 33 foreclosures now listed on Zillow.com alongside the more than 1,500 homes currently available.
Having the foreclosure rate low helps real estate hold its value in the neighborhoods throughout the area. When foreclosure rates are high, all homes lose value as they are sold at lower prices, which in turn bring the prices of other homes down with them. In addition, the low foreclosure rate also keeps homes occupied – vacant homes attract vandalism as windows get broken, spray paint abounds, and grass grows tall. The irony is sweet that in Overland Park, Kansas and its famed Tall Grass prairie heritage, tall grass in single family residences is rare indeed.
If you try to live or pick a land property in Kansas, you should know the mortgage rates across it. A mortgage calculator is a very good and helpful tool to use. Kansas mortgage rates may vary but just try to compare the rates from some of the most reputable lenders across Kansas area.
We hopped on a bypass from the airport which apparently goes right through some major conservation areas, including what I believe may have been about a hundred miles of the famous tall grass you find in this amazing prairie state. After about 10 minutes of driving through this natural area, my boss started yelling, "You got the wrong directions! We'll never find our way out of here!" It was like a reverse Wizard of Oz moment when we wanted to find our way out of being lost in the Kansas prairie and back to where we knew there was bottled water and shopping malls.
We finally emerged from the wilderness and drove right to our modern-day hotel, none the worse for the wear. What we learned is that Kansas really does have a slice of prairie life – just like you'd imagine from the movies and books. We also learned it is a hub for the arts, gaming, and entertainment communities – very family friendly, but also attractive to young professionals.
Housing is a little high in Overland Park, with prices averaging about $240,000. But at these prices, you'll find real estate with a lot of square footage, plenty of bedrooms and bathrooms, and a fairly low foreclosure rate. In fact, there are only 33 foreclosures now listed on Zillow.com alongside the more than 1,500 homes currently available.
Having the foreclosure rate low helps real estate hold its value in the neighborhoods throughout the area. When foreclosure rates are high, all homes lose value as they are sold at lower prices, which in turn bring the prices of other homes down with them. In addition, the low foreclosure rate also keeps homes occupied – vacant homes attract vandalism as windows get broken, spray paint abounds, and grass grows tall. The irony is sweet that in Overland Park, Kansas and its famed Tall Grass prairie heritage, tall grass in single family residences is rare indeed.
If you try to live or pick a land property in Kansas, you should know the mortgage rates across it. A mortgage calculator is a very good and helpful tool to use. Kansas mortgage rates may vary but just try to compare the rates from some of the most reputable lenders across Kansas area.
Kansas Real Estate is Affordable
Kansas possibly offers the most affordable real estate in the U.S. - homes that are built strong and located in communities built for the sturdy. In fact, residents have long been of good stock, able to defend themselves, their homes, and their jobs. Early in the history of Lincoln County, an armed man was shot dead by the cashier of the Sylvan State Bank after attempting a robbery. His two accomplices escaped by horseback, never to be seen again.
Kansas is filled with tales like this and dozens of sites of interest. President Lincoln's assassin John Wilkes Booth hid out in a hole in Concordia, there's a space-themed indoor swimming pool in Hutchinson, and you can see a concrete teepee in Lawrence.
Like the teepee, homes in Kansas are built to last. Many feature wood trim, hardwood floors, and are incredibly affordable. For example, one house with almost 2000 square feet, three bedrooms, two baths and a bonus room sits on a large lot with shade trees. It's priced at an incredible $68,000
In Dodge City, you can find a $200,000 piece of real estate with almost 4,000 square feet, three bedrooms, 3 1/2 baths, and a plush yard that features a wooden bridge over a gorgeous water feature.
If your taste runs toward land big enough to house a horse ranch with six concreted stalls, along with a tac room, pond, greenhouse, and safe room is available in Benton, Kansas. This gorgeous piece of real estate sits on 40 acres of manicured lawn and some wooded acreage, and is available for just over a half million dollars.
If you'd prefer to participate in a sport less tame than horsemanship, the sunflower state is wide open for outdoorsmen. Sylvan Grove is an area that's renowned for great hunting and fishing because a 9,000 acre lake is located on the Wilson River. With 100 miles of shoreline, the lake is just 10-minutes from town. The area is also famous for its magnificent sandstone, used by early settlers to build fences and even a nearby well-known double-arched bridge that evokes a sense of longing for bygone days.
The best part of Kansas is you don't have to long for the simple life anymore. If you come for a visit, you may fall in love with this affordable, natural state and choose to live here.
Kansas is filled with tales like this and dozens of sites of interest. President Lincoln's assassin John Wilkes Booth hid out in a hole in Concordia, there's a space-themed indoor swimming pool in Hutchinson, and you can see a concrete teepee in Lawrence.
Like the teepee, homes in Kansas are built to last. Many feature wood trim, hardwood floors, and are incredibly affordable. For example, one house with almost 2000 square feet, three bedrooms, two baths and a bonus room sits on a large lot with shade trees. It's priced at an incredible $68,000
In Dodge City, you can find a $200,000 piece of real estate with almost 4,000 square feet, three bedrooms, 3 1/2 baths, and a plush yard that features a wooden bridge over a gorgeous water feature.
If your taste runs toward land big enough to house a horse ranch with six concreted stalls, along with a tac room, pond, greenhouse, and safe room is available in Benton, Kansas. This gorgeous piece of real estate sits on 40 acres of manicured lawn and some wooded acreage, and is available for just over a half million dollars.
If you'd prefer to participate in a sport less tame than horsemanship, the sunflower state is wide open for outdoorsmen. Sylvan Grove is an area that's renowned for great hunting and fishing because a 9,000 acre lake is located on the Wilson River. With 100 miles of shoreline, the lake is just 10-minutes from town. The area is also famous for its magnificent sandstone, used by early settlers to build fences and even a nearby well-known double-arched bridge that evokes a sense of longing for bygone days.
The best part of Kansas is you don't have to long for the simple life anymore. If you come for a visit, you may fall in love with this affordable, natural state and choose to live here.
