Senior Downsizing · Probate & Estate Sales · Out-of-State Heirs | Des Moines, Iowa
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
By Sarah Ingles, REALTOR® & SRES® CPCU® | Smart Move Des Moines Downsizing Your Home Starts With Downsizing Your Belongings This guide covers estate sale vs selling items downsizing options to help you make the best decision. When you have lived in a home for decades, the belongings you have accumulated tell the story of … Read more
By Sarah Ingles, REALTOR® SRES® CPCU® | Smart Move Des Moines Iowa property taxes 65 Des Moines seniors face can be significantly reduced with the right exemptions. 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 … Read more
By Sarah Ingles, REALTOR® SRES® CPCU® | Smart Move Des Moines Downsizing mistakes Des Moines seniors make 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 Downsizing vs rightsizing 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. … Read more
Main floor living West Des Moines is one of the smartest moves a senior or downsizer can make in 2026 — whether that means a ranch home, a villa with lawn and snow care handled, or a 55+ community where everything is designed for one-level convenience. / What Is Main Floor Living? Main floor living … Read more
By Sarah Ingles, REALTOR® SRES® CPCU® | Smart Move Des Moines What Happens to Home Insurance When a Parent Passes Away in Iowa? If you’re managing a parent’s home after they’ve passed away in Iowa, there’s one thing you need to check before anything else: the homeowner’s insurance. Iowa executors have as little as 30 … Read more
By Sarah Ingles, REALTOR® SRES® CPCU® | Smart Move Des Moines If you need to sell a probate home in Des Moines, you’re not alone. You’re dealing with a lot right now, and insurance is probably not what you wanted to think about first. But this is one of the time-sensitive decisions that protects the … Read more
The Iowa probate timeline shapes every decision you’ll face as an out-of-state heir. When a parent dies and leaves you a house in Iowa — and you live in Phoenix, or Chicago, or anywhere that isn’t Des Moines — the first question is almost always the same: “How fast can I sell it?” It’s a … Read more