Senior Downsizing · Probate & Estate Sales · Out-of-State Heirs | Des Moines, Iowa
The call usually goes like this. One sibling is in Phoenix, one is in Chicago, one still lives forty minutes from the Iowa house. The Phoenix sibling wants to sell immediately and distribute the proceeds. The Chicago sibling agrees but thinks the house needs work first. The local sibling isn’t sure they want to sell … Read more
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
If you need to sell an inherited house in Iowa, start here. Selling an inherited house in Iowa starts with one question: who has the legal authority to sign? Until that question is answered, nothing else can move forward. Most families in Polk, Dallas, and Warren Counties find the full process takes four to six … 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Iowa inheritance tax repealed:When a parent dies and leaves an Iowa house, one of the first calls an out-of-state heir makes is to their CPA or home-state attorney.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 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 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 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
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