City: Kansas City, MO

Category: Relocation

Description: As a Northland suburb of Kansas City, Riverside is known for its pleasing small neighborhoods, large industrial parks, and extensive business district. With a population of fewer than 3,000, it offers a small-town spirit with easy access to the region’s finest cultural, educational, and social amenities. Home styles and prices vary greatly, from $75,000 to $250,000.

City: Kansas City, MO

Category: Relocation

Description: Only 57 years old, this delightful community is centered on a man-made lake set in panoramic rolling hills and lush woods. The community originally was developed as an enclave of summer homes, but people found it too hard to leave at the end of the season. Now Weatherby supports neighborhoods ranging from lake cabins to gorgeous estates. City leaders were smart enough to put strict zoning laws into place early to maintain the area’s rural and rustic feeling, which its 1,700 residents find so appealing. Homes range from less than $80,000 to more than $1 million, including one real-life castle with a price tag over $8 million. Sold!

City: Kansas City, MO

Category: Relocation

City: Kansas City, MO

Category: Relocation

Description: This has long been a sleepy little town of just over 3,200 residents, but that’s all been changing in the past few years. DeSoto’s location between Lenexa and Lawrence on Kansas Highway 10 makes it a prime place for residential, retail, and commercial growth. And with ready access to the desirable lifestyles of both Lawrence and Kansas City, you might say DeSoto is the best of both worlds. Its progressive school system, which also serves residents of western Shawnee, is another plus. The Plaza is still only 25 minutes away, the airport, 40. Right now home prices are relatively low, considering that so many of the homes include acreage, but that will start to change. Prices range from $90,000 for a simple ranch to $400,000 plus for an estate set way back on vast acreage. Got horses?

City: Kansas City, MO

Category: Relocation

Description: This is one of the most desirable addresses, thanks to a storybook setting of pretty ranch homes and stone cottages with small but beautifully landscaped yards. The landmass is only about 1 square mile, but it packs in around 3,900 people, and they love the small town in a big-city atmosphere. And the location? Let’s just say it got its name from the three panoramic golf courses nearby. Its proximity to the Plaza (just 5 to 10 minutes away) plus parks and the excellent Shawnee Mission School District make this area ideal for singles and for couples with young children. Look for prices from $200,000 for a tiny ranch to well over $1 million.

City: Kansas City, MO

Category: Relocation

Description: Located in both Johnson and Wyandotte Counties, Lake Quivira affords residents a lakeside lifestyle that is still conveniently located in town. Distinctive homes and tranquil neighborhoods are found in this gated community of around 1,900. Swimming, boating, and sailing are all part of the allure, plus a jogging track around the area’s 1.3 square miles. Home styles vary greatly from small older bungalows to stunning contemporary showhomes. Prices range from $100,000 to well over $2 million.

City: Kansas City, MO

Category: Relocation

City: Kansas City, MO

Category: Relocation

City: Kansas City, MO

Category: Relocation

Description: Welcome to Worlds of Fun . . . in Merriam? In 1880 famed architectural designer George Kessler turned 40 acres of wooded hills into a lovely park area, complete with a lake, tennis courts, and boating. And at the turn of the 20th century, Kansas Citians were coming to the Hocker Grove Amusement Park’s dancing pavilion, skating rink, and rides. The amusement parks have closed, but Merriam still offers a wonderful lifestyle for its 12,000 residents. With the city’s ready access to the highway system, the Plaza is just 12 minutes away, the airport about 25.Home prices in Merriam vary dramatically depending on whether the house is a two-bedroom bungalow or a five-bedroom reverse ranch on a landscaped lot. Expect to find homes between $80,000 and more than $300,000.

City: Kansas City, MO

Category: Relocation

Description: A charming ’burb in the northern section of Johnson County, Mission offers neighborhood shopping centers, excellent schools, and tree-lined streets. And location? You can practically be on the Plaza before you find your charge card. The airport is 30 minutes away. Homes here are typically traditional or ranch style, with a few fairy-tale Tudors tossed in for looks.The excellent Shawnee Mission School District is a draw for families, but first-time homebuyers often shop here first for homes in the $80,000 range. Larger homes can run higher than $300,000.

City: Kansas City, MO

Category: Relocation

City: Kansas City, MO

Category: Relocation

Description: Exclusive, exquisite, and in demand. Occupying 20 acres of land, yet with only 165 or so residents, Mission Woods has the distinction of having the lowest population of any of the incorporated cities of Johnson County. Homes here quietly go on the market (you’ll never see a yard sign) and are quickly sold. Amenities include a nearby golf country club, tennis club, several parks, and both private and parochial schools. Thanks to its location at the intersection of State Line Road and Shawnee Mission Parkway, the Plaza is at its doorstep. This is truly one of the most beautiful little cities in the country, and the privilege of living here will cost between $500,000 and $2 million, but we know of a recent $5.2 million sale. All things considered, that may well be a bargain.

City: Kansas City, MO

Category: Relocation

Description: From the Indian word for “beautiful” (pronounced Oh-LAY-thuh), this city covers 50 square miles. Its size holds many advantages, including two airports, Johnson County Executive and the Industrial Airport, and its own award-winning school district. It’s also home to Hillsdale Lake, a gigantic recreational area, and Olathe Medical Center. Homes here range from $75,000 for a modest starter home (ideal for singles, young couples, and retirees) to more than $3 million for a gorgeous estate overlooking the lake at Cedar Creek. Its diversity means you’ll see architecture in a variety of designs, from traditional to Spanish, California contemporary to prairie style.

City: Kansas City, MO

Category: Relocation

City: Kansas City, MO

Category: Relocation