NE Kansas City neighborhood around Budd Park?? (Liberty, North Kansas City: house, safe area)

[Bellclairdillivia]

I'm moving to KC next month and I am anxious to buy my first house. I am pretty set on a more historic home, and would love to find something built before 1950. But I also really, really need a safe area since I am a single female. I would like a house that needs a lot of cosmetic help, but not structural work. I would also like an area near a park or a trail, and that has residential sidewalks! (I don't know why Waldo streets do not have curbs or sidewalks... anyone??)

I've read all the posts here and I know that Brookside is fabulous. I would buy there if I could, but my price range is $150k and down. I'm torn on Waldo -- some streets are cute and charming, but some are just trashy looking ranch boxes. I definitely want charming, or at least historic.

So what is the area around Budd Park like? It seems like the house price range is quite varied, from $40k to upwards of $250k. I haven't had a chance to drive around that area. Is it safe? Is there a name for that area, or a neighborhood association?

Thanks for any input!

[northbound74]

The old Northeast is a neat area, but parts of it are pretty run down. Maybe more run down than not, overall. It's not an area that I would recommend for safety. For your price range, It may be difficult to find a nice old house in a safe neighborhood in the city. As much as I hate to do so, especially to someone wanting to live in the city, I would almost have to recommend an older suburb. Liberty or North Kansas City (which is virtually next to downtown), have really neat older areas which would be much, much safer than Northeast. There's also the West Plaza area, and Westport... both in Kansas City, which might be affordable enough as well...and a good bit safer than Northeast.

[Versatile]

Forget the Budd Park area unless you already own a burial policy or plan to purchase one with the money you save by not buying in Waldo/Brookside etc. The one's that wear the blue bandannas own the turf there.

[violet70]

My husband went to school up near Budd Park (med school) and he had many friends who lived in the area, but I've never heard anything good about it. I'd stay away from there. Look into: the Volker neighborhood, near KUMed and 39th St. You could find a smaller house in that neighborhood for less than 150K. (We lived in this area: beautiful house built in 1906, lots of young people.) The best streets are closer to State Line Rd. Also, look just a little further south of Westport Rd (west of SW Trafficway). Anywhere in that area really between say 37th St and Westwood Park, 5 blocks off State Line. Good luck!