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Matt Derrick
HBA
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Homebuyers Choosing Urban Living for New Homes

There’s a reason why the downtowns of Kansas City on both sides of the state line, the Country Club Plaza and town squares such as North Kansas City were bustling places to live for generations past. It’s the same reason new generations of homebuyers are returning to these neighborhoods, drawn by the history, excitement and attractions of urban living.

The trend of consumers looking toward the region’s urban center is clear on the 2008 Parade of Homes, presented by the Home Builders Association of Greater Kansas City. Opening Sept. 7 and continuing through Sept. 21, a total of 23 homes among 21 different communities are featured within the Urban Living section of this year’s parade, illustrating the popularity of living closer to the city’s heart.

In Downtown Kansas City alone, more than 16,000 residents live among the more than 5,600 townhomes, lofts, apartments and flats with thousands of more homes under development or in the planning stages. The addition of the Sprint Center, the Power & Light entertainment district and future attractions such as the performing arts center are only adding to the draw. Downtown Kansas City has emerged as a thriving neighborhood where it’s possible to enjoy all the advantages of living in an animated city within walking distance of your home.

Other urban neighborhood such as the Country Club Plaza, the 39th Street corridor near the KU Medical Center and Downtown Kansas City, Kan., are also seeing new interest from homebuyers choosing to live closer to where they work and play. The story is much the same in North Kansas City, where traditional neighborhoods within walking distance of the city’s scenic downtown are inspiring homebuyers who desire new homes similar to where they grew up and their families lived in the past.

With housing choices ranging from under $100,000 for working families and singles just starting out to upper-bracket homes and condominiums priced at more than $1 million, Urban Living has opened up a whole new world for local homebuyers. No other communities in the metro match the diversity of housing choices available in urban neighborhoods, making it one of the prime locations for families seeking alternatives that match both their budget as well as their lifestyle.

The 23 residences in 21 urban neighborhoods featured on this year’s Spring Homes Tour are open daily from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. during the Parade of Homes Sept. 7-21. For more information, be sure to visit www.kcparadeofhomes.com or pick up a copy of the official Parade of Homes Guide at any one of the communities on this year’s tour.

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