Senior Moves & Downsizing

By Sarah Ingles, REALTOR® & SRES® CPCU®  |  Smart Move Des Moines Downsizing Your Home Starts With Downsizing Your Belongings When you have lived in a home for decades, the belongings you have accumulated tell the story of your life. Furniture passed down from family, kitchenware collected over holidays, tools from a lifetime of projects, … Read more

Feb 14, 2026 By Sarah Ingles, REALTOR® SRES® CPCU® | Smart Move Des Moines Downsizing vs aging in place is one of the most important financial decisions you’ll make as a Central Iowa senior — and the right answer depends on your budget, your health, your home’s condition, and your long-term goals. Both paths can … Read more

By Sarah Ingles, REALTOR® SRES® CPCU® | Smart Move Des Moines If you’re considering downsizing your home in Des Moines, you’re in good company — thousands of Iowa seniors and empty nesters make this transition every year, seeking to simplify, reduce the maintenance load, and unlock the equity they’ve built over decades. As a Seniors … Read more

By Sarah Ingles, REALTOR® SRES® CPCU® | Smart Move Des Moines Choosing a 55+ community in Central Iowa is one of the biggest quality-of-life decisions you’ll make — and the Des Moines metro has more options than most people realize. As a Seniors Real Estate Specialist (SRES®) serving Ankeny, Waukee, Urbandale, West Des Moines, Johnston, … Read more

By Sarah Ingles, REALTOR® SRES® CPCU® | Smart Move Des Moines If you’re 65 or older and own a home in Central Iowa, the Iowa 65+ homestead exemption can lower your property tax bill starting in 2026. Combined with the standard Homestead Credit, qualifying seniors can reduce their taxable home value by up to $11,350 … Read more

By Sarah Ingles, REALTOR® SRES® CPCU® | Smart Move Des Moines Downsizing mistakes cost Des Moines seniors thousands of dollars and months of stress every year — and most of them are completely avoidable. As a Seniors Real Estate Specialist (SRES®) who helps families navigate these transitions across Urbandale, Waukee, West Des Moines, Ankeny, Johnston, … Read more

By Sarah Ingles, REALTOR® SRES® CPCU® | Smart Move Des Moines You’ve probably heard both terms — downsizing and right-sizing. Maybe a friend mentioned they’re “right-sizing” into a ranch-style home in Urbandale. Or your adult child gently suggested it might be time to “downsize” now that the kids are gone. Same move. Very different mindset. … Read more

By Sarah Ingles, REALTOR® SRES® CPCU® | Smart Move Des Moines If you’ve been thinking about ditching the stairs — whether that means downsizing into a ranch, finding a villa with snow and lawn care handled, or simply moving your bedroom to the main floor — West Des Moines is one of the best places … Read more

By Sarah Ingles, REALTOR® SRES® CPCU® | Smart Move Des Moines Are you searching for senior housing costs in Des Moines for 2026? With costs rising steadily — up about 19% since 2021 in Iowa — planning ahead is essential for families navigating downsizing and senior living transitions. As your SRES® Realtor in Des Moines, … Read more