Senior Downsizing · Probate & Estate Sales · Out-of-State Heirs | Des Moines, Iowa
By Sarah Ingles, REALTOR® SRES® CPCU® | Smart Move Des Moines Cost of Living in Des Moines, Iowa (2026) The cost of living Des Moines Iowa residents face in 2026 is lower than most major U.S. cities. Whether you’re a buyer relocating to the Des Moines area, a homeowner deciding whether now is the right … Read more
My phone doesn’t ring at 11pm very often. When it does, it’s usually an adult child calling from Phoenix or Chicago or Florida who just got off the phone with a hospital, and the family home in Polk County is suddenly their problem. They’re not ready to sell. They don’t know what they’re allowed to … Read more
By Sarah Ingles, REALTOR® SRES® CPCU® | Smart Move Des Moines What happens to a house when someone dies in Iowa? If you’ve recently lost a parent or family member — or you’re helping someone who has — one of the first questions that comes up is: what happens to the house? It’s the right … Read more
Iowa inheritance tax repealed:When a parent dies and leaves an Iowa house, one of the first calls an out-of-state heir makes is to their CPA or home-state attorney. And one of the first things that CPA or attorney says — if they haven’t updated their Iowa knowledge recently — is some version of: “Watch out … Read more
By Sarah Ingles, REALTOR® SRES® CPCU® | Smart Move Des Moines Des Moines real estate guide — Smart Move Des Moines helps families navigate every chapter of homeownership — from first-time buyers in Ankeny to seniors downsizing in West Des Moines. As a REALTOR® and Seniors Real Estate Specialist (SRES®) with over 10 years of … Read more
By Sarah Ingles, REALTOR® SRES® CPCU® | Smart Move Des Moines Downsizing home Des Moines is a smart move for Iowa seniors. 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, … Read more
By Sarah Ingles, REALTOR® SRES® CPCU® | Smart Move Des Moines If you’re facing the reality of selling your parents’ home in Des Moines — whether it’s an estate situation, a probate property, or a planned transition to senior living — you deserve a calm, clear plan that respects both the heart and the numbers. … 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
By Sarah Ingles, REALTOR® SRES® CPCU® | Smart Move Des Moines Selling Your Parents’ Iowa Home From Out of State: What Out-of-State Heirs Need to Know Need to sell an inherited Iowa home from out of state? If you live in Chicago, Denver, Minneapolis, or Phoenix and just learned you’re responsible for selling a parent’s … Read more
By Sarah Ingles, REALTOR® SRES® CPCU® | Smart Move Des Moines To price an inherited house in Des Moines correctly, executors need a framework that goes beyond a simple CMA. One of the first questions executors ask when they’re preparing to sell an inherited home in Des Moines is whether to fix it up first … Read more