DES MOINES, Iowa — For families, professionals and individuals considering moving to Des Moines, Iowa, the region offers something that can be increasingly difficult to find in growing metropolitan areas: employment opportunities, expanding suburbs, housing choices, amenities and relatively manageable commutes.
That was the message from Cody Voga of Century 21 Signature Real Estate, who recently joined the Let’s Move to Iowa Podcast to discuss the Des Moines housing market, relocation to Central Iowa and what newcomers should consider when choosing among the metro's many communities.
Voga brings an unusual perspective to Iowa real estate. Before becoming a Realtor, he spent approximately a decade working in college athletics communications and public relations at institutions including DePaul University, the University of Minnesota, Auburn University and Ball State University.
His own move to Iowa was also a relocation. Voga and his wife decided to move to the Des Moines area to be closer to family, giving him firsthand experience with many of the questions facing people preparing to relocate to Iowa from another state.
Why Families Are Looking at the Des Moines Metro
For newcomers unfamiliar with Central Iowa, "Des Moines" can mean much more than the city itself.
The metro includes communities such as West Des Moines, Waukee, Ankeny, Urbandale, Johnston, Clive, Altoona and Pleasant Hill, along with other communities that provide different combinations of housing, schools, commuting patterns, shopping, recreation and neighborhood character.
Voga described the Des Moines metro as essentially a collection of smaller communities that together create a larger metropolitan area.
Each offers something different for people researching the best places to live near Des Moines.
On the western side of the metro, Waukee and West Des Moines have experienced significant development, including newer housing, restaurants, shopping and other amenities. West Des Moines is home to the Jordan Creek area, while Waukee continues to add new development.
On the north side, Ankeny is another major growth area with extensive residential development.
Meanwhile, established suburbs such as Johnston, Urbandale and Clive can appeal to buyers looking for mature neighborhoods and convenient locations. Voga specifically pointed to Clive's parks and Greenbelt trail system as an attractive community amenity.
To the east, Altoona and Pleasant Hill provide additional options, with Altoona also offering attractions such as Adventureland.
How Far Can a $300,000 Home Budget Go in Des Moines?
For prospective homebuyers relocating to Iowa, affordability is often one of the first considerations.
Voga cautioned, however, against simply identifying one Des Moines suburb as the "cheapest" or automatically the best value.
A buyer with a $300,000 budget, for example, could encounter substantially different housing choices depending on whether they search in Des Moines, Altoona, Norwalk, Ankeny or one of the western suburbs.
The tradeoffs can include the home's age and size, lot size, school district, commute and proximity to amenities.
Instead of starting with a particular city, Voga recommends that buyers first determine what matters most to their household.
Do they want four bedrooms and newer construction? Is a large yard important? Do they want to live close to downtown Des Moines? How important is the commute? Are they comfortable driving 20 or 30 minutes to work?
Once those priorities are established, buyers can identify where their housing dollars are likely to stretch further while still providing the lifestyle they want.
Ankeny, Waukee and West Des Moines Remain Growth Areas
For buyers interested in newer construction, Voga pointed to the western and northern portions of the metro.
Ankeny, Waukee and West Des Moines continue to see substantial residential development, according to Voga, with new construction playing an increasingly visible role in those communities.
The growth also illustrates an important characteristic of the Des Moines housing market: buyers aren't limited to one type of community.
Someone may choose an established neighborhood closer to downtown, a newer suburban development, or even a property with more land while remaining within reasonable reach of metropolitan amenities.
Voga said that newer construction isn't necessarily synonymous with identical homes, either. Builders and buyers increasingly have opportunities to incorporate different features and finishes rather than selecting from only a small number of standardized designs.
Des Moines Jobs Are Helping Support Relocation
Housing is only part of the relocation equation.
Voga identified the Des Moines area's diverse employment base as another important factor supporting the metro's housing market and attracting newcomers.
Insurance and financial services remain major parts of the regional economy, but Voga also highlighted opportunities in healthcare, technology, manufacturing and education.
Recognizable employers he discussed include Principal Financial Group, Wells Fargo and UnityPoint Health.
That employment diversity can also influence where newcomers ultimately decide to live.
A professional working downtown may prioritize a Des Moines neighborhood offering a shorter commute and convenient access to restaurants and events. Someone working on the western side of the metro might consider West Des Moines, Waukee or Clive, while someone working in Ankeny or regularly traveling toward Ames could find Ankeny more practical.
For Voga, the larger relocation story isn't simply whether a job can attract someone to Iowa. The question is whether the overall lifestyle can persuade them to stay.
“A job's going to bring someone to Des Moines, but lifestyle is often what makes them decide to stay,” Voga said.
Des Moines Offers a Different Kind of Metro Lifestyle
People researching what it's like to live in Des Moines may arrive with preconceived ideas about Iowa.
Cornfields and small towns are certainly part of the state, but Voga said newcomers can be surprised by what they find in the Des Moines metro.
The area combines a growing downtown with restaurants, sports, concerts, breweries, parks, trails and shopping, while residents can still choose quieter suburban communities or acreage properties within reach of the metro.
Another potential advantage is commute time.
Voga cited examples of residents living in Ankeny and commuting downtown in roughly 20 minutes, while other metro communities can similarly provide access to employment centers without the lengthy daily commutes associated with some larger metropolitan areas.
“You don't necessarily have to choose between having things to do and having a comfortable, quieter lifestyle,” Voga said during the interview.
Buying a Des Moines Home From Another State
Perhaps one of Voga's most useful perspectives for people relocating to Des Moines from another state comes from his own experience.
Voga and his wife were living in Indiana when they purchased their Iowa home. They bought it without physically touring it themselves, relying instead on a virtual tour.
That experience now influences how he approaches long-distance buyers.
His advice: don't attempt to manage the entire relocation through online real estate listings alone.
Websites can be useful for researching homes and becoming familiar with an area, but listing photographs can't fully communicate what a property or neighborhood feels like.
Long-distance buyers may need a local real estate professional to serve as their eyes and ears, including conducting live virtual walkthroughs, examining details that aren't visible in listing photographs, discussing neighborhoods and evaluating commuting routes.
Why Live Video Tours Can Matter for Relocating Homebuyers
Voga prefers live video calls when conducting virtual home tours because buyers can ask questions as the walkthrough happens.
Sometimes those questions can become remarkably specific.
During one virtual showing, a buyer wanted to know the manufacturer of the home's cabinets. Because the tour was happening live, Voga could open a cabinet and investigate.
Another buyer noticed that a property appeared close to an interstate and asked Voga to step outside so they could determine whether traffic noise could be heard from the home.
Those are details that can be difficult—if not impossible—to evaluate through listing photographs.
For someone buying a house from California, Texas or another distant state, that level of real-time communication can help reduce the disadvantages of being hundreds or thousands of miles away.
Relocating Doesn't Mean You Have to Rush Into a Home
Moving deadlines can create pressure.
A new employee may have a firm starting date. A family may need to coordinate school schedules, movers, leases and the sale of another property.
But Voga cautions relocation buyers against allowing that deadline to force them into purchasing the wrong house.
“You don't need to rush simply because you're relocating,” he said.
A home that meets seven out of ten requirements isn't necessarily the right property simply because the moving date is approaching. In some cases, Voga said, an agent's most useful advice may be telling a client that a particular home isn't right for them.
What Should You Consider Before Moving to Des Moines?
For prospective newcomers, Voga recommends beginning the relocation process with questions rather than listings.
Where will you work? What will your mornings look like? What do you want to do on weekends? Would you rather have new construction or an established neighborhood? How much commuting are you willing to do?
Those answers can help narrow a broad metro area into a manageable group of communities and properties.
It's an approach that can be particularly valuable in Central Iowa because relocating buyers have numerous choices within relatively close proximity.
Rather than searching for a universally "best" Des Moines suburb, newcomers can focus on finding the community that best fits their own combination of housing budget, career, commute, family needs, recreation and lifestyle.
What Is the Outlook for Des Moines Real Estate?
Looking ahead five to ten years, Voga said he remains optimistic about Central Iowa, although he doesn't expect every community to grow at the same pace.
Ankeny, Waukee and West Des Moines are among the areas where he continues to see development and investment.
But his outlook isn't based on expectations that housing prices will suddenly soar.
Instead, Voga sees the long-term appeal of Des Moines coming back to quality of life.
People want communities where they can build a career, purchase a home, raise a family, enjoy restaurants and entertainment, spend time outdoors and maintain a reasonable commute.
The Des Moines metro, he believes, can offer that combination.
“Central Iowa is continuing to grow and communities are continuing to invest and people will continue to have reasons to move here,” Voga said.
Considering a Move to Des Moines, Iowa?
For families and professionals researching moving to Iowa, the Des Moines metro provides a wide range of communities rather than a one-size-fits-all relocation destination.
From the rapid development of Waukee and Ankeny to established neighborhoods in Urbandale, Johnston and Clive, the shopping and employment centers of West Des Moines, and communities including Altoona, Pleasant Hill and Norwalk, newcomers can compare housing and lifestyle options while remaining connected to the broader metro.
And for people relocating from hundreds or even thousands of miles away, understanding those differences before choosing a home can be every bit as important as finding the home itself.
Cody Voga is a real estate professional with Century 21 Signature Real Estateserving the Des Moines area. He can be reached at 515-720-1714.
Let’s Move to Iowa provides relocation-focused news, interviews and resources for individuals, families, professionals, retirees and businesses considering a move to Iowa.