Polk County taxes are paid in arrears, so part of what you owe for the time you’ve owned the home usually hasn’t been paid yet when you sell. At closing, you’ll typically give the buyer a credit for that amount. Your closing attorney or settlement agent will calculate the exact figure.
Sell your house fast in Des Moines, IA
Get a fair cash offer and close on your schedule.
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Median sale price
$227,142
Up 3.2% from a year ago. Homes that need work compete with move-in-ready houses for the same buyers.
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Homes with price drops
46.2%
Up 1.3 points from a year ago. Nearly half of listings had to cut their asking price.
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Older neighborhoods sell on different terms
Many Des Moines neighborhoods were built in the first half of the 1900s, from Beaverdale’s brick homes to the older houses in Sherman Hill and River Bend. They have character, but outdated wiring, plumbing, and foundations can stall a traditional sale. A cash home buyer can buy in almost any condition.
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High property taxes make waiting expensive
Des Moines homeowners pay a median effective property tax rate of about 1.87%, above the Iowa and national medians, according to Ownwell. If you’re holding an empty or inherited house while it sits on the market, those taxes add up alongside insurance, utilities, and upkeep.
How it works
Selling your Des Moines home doesn’t have to mean fixing it up, cutting the price, or waiting on a buyer’s mortgage approval.
STEP 01
Start online
Tell us about your Des Moines home and your timing in a short form.
STEP 02
One walkthrough
A cash home buyer visits the property once, on a day that suits you.
STEP 03
See your number
Review a cash offer based on the home’s condition, and take your time deciding.
STEP 04
Choose your closing
Close on the date you pick and receive your money at closing.
Why sell your Des Moines house with SellMyHouse.co
Selling to a cash home buyer is different from a traditional Des Moines listing in a few important ways.
- No repairs or updates required. A cash home buyer can make an offer on your home as is, whether it’s a Beaverdale brick with original wiring, an older house near Drake, or anything else in Polk County.
- No agent commissions come out of your offer. On a median-priced Des Moines home, agent fees on a traditional sale typically run between $11,300 and $13,600.
- You choose the closing date. Whether you’re settling an estate, moving for work, or trying to get ahead of a tax bill, you set the timing.
- No showings or open houses. Once you request an offer, you work with one buyer from start to finish.
- Complicated situations are okay. Inherited homes, rentals with tenants, homes with deferred maintenance, and sellers behind on payments are situations cash buyers in our network handle regularly.
What Des Moines sellers need to know
Iowa handles a few parts of a home sale differently than most states, from title work to property tax timing.
Iowa requires a seller disclosure statement
Most Iowa sellers of 1 to 4 unit homes must give buyers a written disclosure statement before an offer is made or accepted. It covers what you know about the home’s condition, and selling as is doesn’t change that. It’s worth reviewing the Iowa home sale requirements before your sale gets too far along.
Abstract of title
Iowa doesn’t allow private title insurance. Instead, the seller has an abstract company update the property’s abstract of title, a summary of its recorded history, and the buyer’s attorney reviews it to confirm the title is clear. Buyers can also add coverage through Iowa Title Guaranty, a state program. Sellers typically pay for the update and buyers for the attorney’s review, and if you’ve inherited a home and can’t find the abstract, tell the buyer early.
Transfer tax and groundwater statement
Iowa’s transfer tax is $0.80 per $500 of the sale price, or about $360 on a median-priced Des Moines home, typically paid by the seller. A groundwater hazard statement also goes with the deed, disclosing any wells, private septic systems, or underground tanks on the property that you know about.
Polk County property taxes are paid in arrears
Polk County property taxes are paid a year behind, so taxes for the time you’ve owned the home are often still unpaid when you sell. At closing, you’ll typically credit the buyer for that amount, based on your tax records and closing date.
Frequently asked questions
How does Polk County property tax proration work at closing?
How much is the transfer tax when selling a home in Des Moines?
Iowa’s transfer tax is $0.80 for every $500 of the sale price above the first $500. On a $227,142 home, that’s about $360. It’s paid when the deed is recorded with the Polk County Recorder.
I’m behind on my mortgage. Can I sell my Des Moines home before foreclosure?
In most cases, yes. Iowa lenders usually have to foreclose through the courts, which takes time. Iowa law may also give you a redemption period after the sheriff’s sale, though lenders can shorten or waive it in some cases. Selling before the sale may let you pay off the loan and keep any equity. A foreclosure attorney can explain your exact timeline.
I inherited a house in Des Moines and can’t find the abstract of title. Can I still sell it?
In most cases, yes. An abstract of title is a summary of the recorded documents in a property’s history, such as deeds, mortgages, and probate records, and in Iowa an attorney uses it to check that the title is clear. If it’s lost, an abstract company can usually prepare a new one from county records, though that takes extra time and money. Tell the buyer about the missing abstract as early as possible, and if the estate is still in probate, an attorney can explain what’s needed.
Do I have to make repairs before selling to a cash buyer in Des Moines?
No. Cash home buyers in our network purchase homes in almost any condition. You don’t have to spend anything on repairs, cleaning, or updates before requesting an offer.
