Any Kansas City folks able to chime in on this area/deal I'm looking to buy?

[Ahmed Moussa]

Hey Fellow BP'ers, 

I'm looking at a 2/2 duplex on 49th Street near UMKC. The numbers look great ($75k purchase, $1050 total rents), but I wanted to get folks take on the area. Like, would you let kid live there if they were going to school nearby? Would you rent there if you were looking in that area? Is the rent reasonable? 

Thanks for any insights local KC'ers!!

[Brandon Laughridge]

I just purchased a house a few miles from here in the Waldo/Brookside area.  As @Engelo Rumora says, Troost is very much a dividing line (sadly).  West of Troost is viewed as a historic, quaint family area and East of Troost is viewed as sketchy if not completely unsafe--depending on who you ask.  My opinion is that it's "pocket-y" East of Troost.   The trouble that you might face is how that stigma affects you on resale (and rentals to some extent).  That would be my biggest fear.

Here's some good background if you're interested:  http://kcur.org/post/how-troost-became-major-divide-kansas-city