Expert REALTOR® for Senior Downsizing, Probate & Out-of-State Estate Sales in Des Moines
By Sarah Ingles, REALTOR® SRES® CPCU® | Smart Move Des Moines Why Cost of Living Matters in 2026 Whether you’re a buyer relocating to the Des Moines area, a homeowner deciding whether now is the right time to sell, or a senior planning your next chapter, understanding the true cost of living in Des Moines … Read more
By Sarah Ingles, REALTOR® SRES® CPCU® | Smart Move Des Moines Don’t Skip the Most Important Step in Your Home Purchase A thorough home inspection is the single most important step between an accepted offer and a confident closing — especially in Central Iowa’s demanding climate. | Smart Move Des Moines | smartmovedsm.com You’ve found … Read more
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
By Sarah Ingles, REALTOR® & SRES® CPCU® | Smart Move Des Moines Build Wealth From Home With a Des Moines Duplex House hacking a duplex lets you live in one unit and rent out the other — turning your home into an income-producing asset that can drastically reduce or even eliminate your monthly mortgage payment. … Read more
The Complete Guide to 1031 Exchanges in Iowa: How Central Iowa Investors Defer Capital Gains and Build Wealth By Sarah Ingles, REALTOR® & SRES® CPCU® | Smart Move Des Moines What Is a 1031 Exchange and Why Should Iowa Investors Care? A 1031 exchange lets Iowa investors defer capital gains taxes and reinvest the full … Read more
By Sarah Ingles, REALTOR® SRES® CPCU® | Smart Move Des Moines 2026 mortgage rates are expected to ease gradually — not crash — with most forecasts pointing toward the low-to-mid 6% range by late 2026. For Iowa buyers, that shift matters: a 0.5% rate drop on a $300,000 loan saves roughly $100–$120 per month, or … 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 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 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 Des Moines is one of the most undervalued mid-size metros in the country — and 2026 is shaping up to be a breakout year. Major business expansions, rising job opportunities, housing that’s still 30–50% more affordable than comparable Midwest cities, and a lifestyle that … Read more