Des Moines has steady demand for updated houses, but foursquares with tired mechanicals, rentals with deferred maintenance and estates with several heirs are harder to sell on the open market. Polk County cash buyers make offers on those as they stand.
Instead of calling buyer after buyer, send one request. Cash buyers who work in Polk County compete for the house, and we match you with the one that fits your price and your timeline.
How it works
- 1. Tell us about the house in one form.
- 2. Cash buyers who work in Polk County make offers.
- 3. We match you with the best fit. More
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Selling a house in Des Moines
Older Des Moines neighborhoods are full of early-1900s foursquares and Victorians, Beaverdale has its brick houses, and the suburbs add post-war ranches. Basement water, old boilers, galvanized plumbing and lead paint are the repairs most often found.
Buyers make offers on houses across Polk County, including:
- Beaverdale
- Drake
- Sherman Hill
- River Bend
- Highland Park
- Union Park
- Capitol East
- Oak Park
- Urbandale
- Ankeny
Common situations in Polk County
How each one works locally — and why a cash sale can help. General information, not legal advice.
Probate and inherited houses
Polk County estates are filed in the Polk County District Court, and the executor or administrator it appoints can sell the house.
More on probate and inherited houses →Behind on the mortgage
Most Polk County mortgage foreclosures are filed in district court; after a judgment the Polk County Sheriff sells the house. You own the house until the sale, so you can usually still sell.
More on behind on the mortgage →Behind on property taxes
The Polk County Treasurer collects property taxes and offers unpaid taxes at the county's annual tax sale; the owner can redeem for a time before a buyer can seek a tax deed.
More on behind on property taxes →Code violations and city orders
The City of Des Moines' neighborhood inspectors handle housing-code and nuisance cases and can order unsafe buildings repaired or taken down.
More on code violations and city orders →Tired of being a landlord
Evictions (forcible entry and detainer) are filed in Polk County small claims court. You can sell with tenants in place — paying, behind, or mid-eviction.
More on tired of being a landlord →No fees or commissions, no showings or repairs, and buyers never see your contact details until you choose one. How DealSherpa works.
Selling for cash in Des Moines: questions
My Des Moines house floods in the basement every spring. Do I need to fix it before selling?
No. A cash buyer will price in the drainage or foundation work. Tell them what you know about the water, because Iowa sellers generally must disclose known problems.
How fast can I sell my house for cash in Des Moines?
Iowa sales commonly close with an attorney's title opinion or Iowa Title Guaranty coverage, and the closing agent pays the mortgage and taxes from the proceeds. Once you accept an offer, most Polk County cash sales close in one to three weeks — sooner if there's no estate or lien paperwork to clear, or later on a date you choose.
Selling somewhere else nearby?
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