Kansas City Real Estate Thoughts... What does Overland Park Kansas offer Kansas City relocation home buyers? If you're relocating to the Kansas City area and looking at our Johnson County Kansas suburb, you may wonder what the differences are from one city to the next in Johnson County. There are many distinctions, from size of the cities, to the amenities, schools, and the vicinity to work, etc. All of the cities of Johnson County are unique and I don't believe any two of them are all that similar to each another. I'm going to provide you a little insight into each city, starting today with the city of Overland Park. In addition to the following info, you'll find our city pages helpful in learning about our areas - so be sure to check those out at the end of this post. A majority of our relocation buyers come to town asking specifically about the city of Overland Park. The city is well known around the country as a top residential suburb and with over 56 square miles and more than 160,000 residents, Overland Park has a lot to offer in numbers alone. Overland Park also offers great schools, job opportunities, housing options, extensive shopping, restaurants and recreational opportunities. The city continues to grow to the south and more new homes and buildings are currently under construction. Generally the newest area of Overland Park is considered from 135th Street going south. The city certainly continues to grow and since the city is not landlocked to the south, the possibilities for further expansion are possible. When guiding relocation clients who are interested in Overland Park, I break the city into two sections - northern Overland Park and southern Overland Park. I-435 is a major interstate around the city and when it crosses Overland Park it is running east/west. It is here that I make the distinction between northern and southern Overland Park. Additionally, this is where two of our major area school districts are divided. The section of Overland Park to the north of I-435 is served by the Shawnee Mission School District and almost the entire portion of Overland Park south of I-435 is served by the Blue Valley School District - the exception being the most westward portion of southern Overland Park, which is served by the Olathe School District. Northern Overland Park is the more mature area and has the most affordable housing choices, with prices generally ranging from $140,000 to $300,000. You should not expect to find new home communities in northern Overland Park. Southern Overland Park is the expanding area and home prices generally range from $240,000 to $1,000,000+. Think of it this way, as you go further south in Overland Park generally there is a price jump each time you pass a major intersection like 103rd Street, College Boulevard, 119th Street, 127th Street, 135th Street, 151st Street, etc. This is by no means an absolute, rather just to give you a general idea about the direction of growth and pricing of homes in Overland Park. Regarding schools, being served by the Blue Valley School District and the Shawnee Mission School District means that Overland Park has the education angle covered. Historically these two school districts have received many awards and are an important part of Overland Park's value proposition. There are also several outstanding private schools in the area. As for shopping opportunities, Overland Park has the Oak Park Mall at 95th and Quivira, Town Center Plaza at 119th and Nall, major shopping all the way down Metcalf Avenue (from Johnson Drive to 159th Street) and many other shopping areas in between. Parks and recreational amenities also abound with the city maintaining a focus on green space and trails as development continues southward. Sports fields and golf courses abound, as do walking and biking trails and Overland Park has really covered the bases in building a first class city. Being the Realtor I am, I've made my home in Overland Park three different times. Having owned seven homes and averaged a move every two and a half years, I've certainly lived and breathed Johnson County Kansas from many perspectives. I've lived in Overland Park, Olathe, Lenexa and Shawnee and in all three of the major school districts, including Blue Valley, Olathe and Shawnee Mission. If you are needing assistance regarding a relocation to Overland Park or the surrounding area, please let me know how I can assist you with your relocation needs. Be sure to visit our City Pages on Johnson County KS:
If anyone would like to add their insight about Overland Park, feel free to add a comment below!
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