We buy houses in Des Moines, IA
We buy houses in Des Moines, IA for cash, in any condition. You pay no agent commissions and make no repairs before you sell. We buy with our own money, so we can commit to a closing date. Market figures below cover August 2026 and were last refreshed on September 17, 2026.
The typical home in Des Moines, IA is worth around $294,000, below the national typical value of $369,000. That value is up about 0.6% over the past year. It is a market-wide figure. A house that needs major work sits well below it, and a renovated one sits above.
The Des Moines market right now
- Typical home value
- $294,000
- Days to go under contract
- 52 days
- Listings cutting their price
- 31.9%
- Compared to nationally
- 20% lower
- Homes for sale
- 3,882
- New listings a month
- 1,126
- Months of supply
- 4.2
- Sales closing below asking
- 60.9%
+0.6% over the past year
+13% vs. a year ago
+0.9% vs. a year ago
National typical value is $369,000
+11% vs. a year ago
+3% vs. a year ago
Broadly balanced
Nationally 50.0%
Des Moines, IA housing figures for August 2026, except the share closing below asking, which Zillow publishes a month behind and covers July 2026. Last refreshed September 17, 2026. Source: Zillow Research. Months of supply is calculated here as for-sale inventory divided by the monthly sales count. These are market-wide figures, not a valuation of any individual property.
What the Des Moines numbers mean for your sale
Houses here take about 52 days on average to go under contract. That is roughly in line with the national figure of 53 days. Keep in mind that clock stops at contract, not at closing. A buyer with a mortgage then needs another 30 to 60 days to fund. So a normal sale in Des Moines realistically takes a few months from listing to money in your account.
About 31.9% of listings in Des Moines have cut their asking price, above the national share of 26.4%. Lots of price cuts usually means sellers start above what buyers will pay, then chase the market down. If you list, the real risk is not that the house never sells. It is spending two or three months learning your first price was too high, while the costs keep running.
About 60.9% of homes that sold in Des Moines closed below their asking price. That is above the national share of 50.0%, so the asking price in Des Moines is more often a starting point than a final number. This is different from the price cut figure above. That one counts sellers who lowered the price before a buyer showed up. This one counts sellers who took less than the asking price in the final deal. A house can avoid the first and still end up in the second.
There are about 3,882 homes for sale in Des Moines right now, and roughly 1,126 new listings in a typical month. At the current sales pace, that is about 4.2 months of supply, which is roughly balanced. Neither buyers nor sellers have a clear edge. That is about 11% more houses for sale than a year ago, so the competition for buyers is growing. In a market like this, condition is what separates a house that sells from one that sits.
At roughly $294,000, Des Moines is an affordable market by national standards. What sellers here often miss is that repair costs do not fall with local prices. A roof costs about the same whether the house is worth $294,000 or twice that. So a house needing $35,000 of work is a much bigger hurdle at this price level. Buyers using FHA or VA loans are also a large share of buyers here, and those loans set strict minimum condition standards. Values are also up about 0.6% year over year. If you are not in a hurry, waiting is a real option to weigh against the cost of holding.
If timing is your main question, see how long it takes to sell a house in Des Moines. It goes stage by stage, including what a normal sale adds after the house goes under contract.
If the real question is whether you can afford to keep it, see what it costs to own a home in Des Moines. That includes what owners with no mortgage left still pay.
How to think about it here
Des Moines sits close to the national average on both speed and price cuts, so neither route is clearly right. It comes down to your house and your situation. If the house is in good shape and you can wait a few months, listing will usually net more. If it needs real work, has people living in it, or you face a date you cannot move, certainty is worth more than the difference.
Selling a house in Des Moines, step by step
Tell us about the house, and your number
The address, a rough idea of its condition, and what you need to get for it. No photos, appraisal, or repair estimates needed, and nothing has to be cleaned up first.
About 2 minutes
We check whether your number works
We look up recent sales of similar homes nearby and see the house ourselves. Then we check the math against your number. It takes one walkthrough, at a time that suits you, and we pay for any inspection.
Usually within 24 to 48 hours
You get a straight answer, not a pitch
Either yes, we can do your number, or no, we cannot, and here is exactly where the gap is. You get it in writing, with no pressure and no deadline games. If it works, a title company handles closing and you pick the date.
Close in about 1 to 3 weeks, or later if you prefer
Sell for cash or list it in Des Moines?
The honest comparison, including the row that does not favor us.
| Selling to us | Listing with an agent | |
|---|---|---|
| Commissions and fees | None. We are the buyer. | Typically 5 to 6 percent of the sale price |
| Repairs before selling | None. We buy as-is. | Usually required, plus whatever the inspection turns up |
| Cleaning and showings | None. One walkthrough. | Ongoing, on a stranger's schedule |
| Who pays closing costs | We cover the standard costs | Commonly split, varies by state |
| Time to close | About 1 to 3 weeks, or a date you pick | Roughly 30 to 60 days after a buyer's offer is accepted |
| Risk of the sale falling through | Low. No lender involved. | Real. A failed loan or a low appraisal can end it. |
| Likely sale price | Below full retail | Full market value if the house shows well |
The last row is the trade-off, and we will not hide it. Selling to a cash buyer gets you speed, certainty, and no repairs at all. If your house is in good shape and you can wait, listing it will usually get you more money.
Markets near Des Moines
We buy across this whole region, including the towns between these metros.
Selling a house in Des Moines
- How fast can you buy my house in Des Moines?
- Usually about one to three weeks after we agree on a price, once title comes back clear. The title search and any loan payoff statements set that pace, not the money. If you would rather close later, pick the date and we will hold it.
- Do you buy houses that need major repairs in Des Moines?
- Yes, and those are often where we help most. Roof, foundation, plumbing, fire or water damage, mold, or a remodel someone left half done. You do not need to fix or clean anything, or get repair quotes.
- What is a house in Des Moines actually worth right now?
- The typical home across the Des Moines, IA market is worth about $294,000. Houses there take around 52 days to go under contract. Those figures cover every condition and neighborhood, so treat them as context, not an estimate for your address.
- Are there any fees to sell to you in Des Moines?
- None. We are the buyer, not an agent, so there is no commission. There is no fee to hear our number or to turn it down. We pay the standard closing costs. Property taxes are prorated to the closing date, and any mortgage or lien payoffs come out of the sale money.
- Do you buy rental properties with tenants in Des Moines?
- Yes. The lease transfers with the property, so your tenants stay put. You do not need to evict anyone or wait for a lease to end. Bring the current leases and the deposit records, and we can move quickly.
Tell us what you need for your Des Moines house
Two minutes to ask, no obligation, and no fee whatever you decide. If we are not the right answer, we will say so.
Sabrina usually picks up. (615) 576-8827