Discover the Right Neighborhood for You

Moving to Kansas City but not sure where to turn when looking for the right neighborhood to live? When it comes to your move, the first (and most important) thing to consider is location, location, location. Having trouble narrowing it down? Check out important statistics like Kansas City crime rates, housing costs, unemployment rates, and other information that varies slightly between neighborhoods. You can browse a variety of factors using online tools on sites like Zillow and Trulia.

Have a job? Talk to people at your company and find out where a good place to live is that is convenient to your office and also ideal in terms of amenities and activities.

Talk to friends: they can be a great resource if they live close-by. They might even get early leads when neighbors are moving and connect you before the unit goes on the market.

Visit areas you are considering at different times of the day to get a feel for activities and noise levels. The block may take on a whole other feel after dark.

Factor neighborhood-specific costs like transportation, dining, and entertainment into your budget.

Before you sign a lease for the full amount you calculated in the previous step, consider whether or not utilities like gas, electric, sewer, water, and garbage are included.

Start saving. Many places require an up-front payment of deposit, first month and last month rent. Pets cost additional.

Figure out how many bedrooms and bathrooms you need — and can afford. Then decide on the type of home you want: will an apartment, townhouse, or detached home be right for your family or group of roommates?

List things you consider to be must-haves, such as dedicated parking, in-house washer & dryer, and so on.

Not sure what your home budget should be? Here is a handy formula to use:

When calculating what you can afford, similar to calculating a mortgage, there's a formula for finding that magical monthly rent number: simply divide your gross income by 40 to determine the maximum you should spend each month.

Good luck on your move to Kansas City and we hope you find the part of town that is perfect for YOU!