Schools’ effect on home sales

Yael Abouhalkah (9/25, Opinion, “Some good news as KCMO district slims down”) states “some real estate agents for years have quietly used (the Kansas City School District’s) problems to steer newcomers away from Kansas City.”

As a Realtor I will tell you that the poor reputation of the Kansas City School District is nationally known, as is the excellent reputation of Blue Valley, Shawnee Mission and Lee’s Summit school districts. Any buyer with a family moving to the area will ask friends, family, and co-workers about local school districts as they consider various home possibilities in the metro area. Internet research is also a key tool.

An ethical, professional and reputable real estate agent will not “steer” a buyer from Kansas City because of the school district. The reputation of the school, test scores, neighborhood, facilities and the actions of the school board will attract — or discourage — the buyer.

Mary Hutchison
Kansas City

Comments

[solomon]

If I'm correct your neighborhood was restrictive when you bought. Read the book i mentioned and we can have an intelligent conversation about it, otherwise its back to your "blacks carry knives" BS.

[Engineer]

solomon
I would expect that most realtors directed customers to where that realtor had houses to sell. But are you trying to say that the KC School District hasn't had a bad reputation for around 50 years?

[solomon]

A guy named Kevin gotham Fox wrote a book a few years ago about the history of real estate in Kansas City and the Nichols built communities. Nichols legacy is national, as president of the real estate association his communities were the template for communities accross the nation. The book also details exactly how the color lined school district was used in the establishment of barriers. It discusses the racial covenants that established communities like Fairway and Prairie Village.

Mary is either naive about her career or a liar (or a Realtor who is smart enough to get a free ad in the Star)