Out of state investing in Kansas City Zip Codes

[Chris Zink]

I've been getting a lot of questions lately from out of state investors about buying in Kansas City. By far the most common question is "What zip code should I invest in?"

One of my favorite areas is 64109. If you go to citi-data and view the demographics it reads something like:

% of renters: 62%

Median house value: $89,200

Median property tax: $1,097

...etc

What this doesn't tell you is the west side is more family owned homes that can run upwards of $1million. The further east you go the lower the income, higher crime, and homes can be purchased for only a few thousand dollars.

I've seen many out of state investors get burned because they weren't familiar enough with an area and thought they were getting a great deal based on a zip code.

Kansas City really can be a great market to invest in, but do your homework, make local connections, build your resources, and make sure you know the neighborhood as well as the zip code.  

[Phillip Syrios]

This is a very odd zip code. Nowhere in the city does it turn from nice neighborhood to run down as quickly as it does here. Troost is the dividing line in this location, you want to be west of it.

This area has a very interesting, and in my opinion sad history and there are many reasons why the east side of Troost is so much more run down in that neighborhood.  Anyone who has interest in Kansas City and what to learn the history of that area check out the documentary We Are Superman: The Transformation of 31st and Troost. It does a great job talking about race relations and why the area looks the way it does today.