Belle Plaine, KS

Belle Plaine is a small town in Johnson County, Kansas, population about 2,000. It is located about 25 miles west of the city of Kansas City and 10 miles east of the city of Overland Park. Belle Plaine was founded in 1872 and named for Belle Plaine, Minnesota. The town's economy has traditionally been based on agriculture and related businesses. However, since the late 1990s Belle Plaine has experienced significant growth as a result of its proximity to the Kansas City metropolitan area and its excellent schools.

Today, Belle Plaine is home to many new businesses and residences that have been built in recent years due to its excellent schools ( Belle Plaine High School was ranked #1 in Kansas by U.S. News & World Report), low crime rate, and close proximity to the larger cities of Kansas City and Overland Park. There are several shopping areas within walking distance of each other including: Village West Shopping Center (containing stores such as Macy's, JCPenney, Sears/Kohl's Department Store, Home Depot), Briarcliff Plaza Shopping Center (containing stores such as Target Corporation., Kohl's Department Store), and Crossroads Shopping Center (containing stores such as Barnes & Noble Bookstore). Additionally there are several restaurants located within walking distance including: Applebee's Neighborhood Grill & Bar; Chili's Grill & Bar; Ruby Tuesday Restaurant; Wingstop Restaurant; Jimmy John's Gourmet Sandwiches; Wendy’s International Restaurant; Sonic Drive-In Restaurant; Domino’s Pizza Pizza Hut Restaurants etc...

The real estate market in Belle Plaine is very competitive with prices ranging from $100 per square foot up into the $200 per square foot range for newer developments. There are a number of factors that contribute to this high level of competition including: strong demand from families who want good schools near their homes; limited availability of land due to zoning regulations that protect residential neighborhoods from commercial development; limited inventory available for sale because many homes have already been sold during previous cycles of growth.; high levels of interest rates which make buying a home more expensive than renting.; close proximity to major metropolitan areas which makes it easier for buyers to find jobs and access services.; etc...