Market Intelligence · IA / Polk County

Des Moines, IA home prices and housing market

11 ZIP markets liveData updated September 2026Typical value$226K1-yr change0.2%

The typical home value in Des Moines, IA is $226K as of September 2026, up 0.2% from a year ago, based on the Zillow Home Value Index. In the typical Des Moines ZIP code, the median list price is $252K and homes spend a median of 55 days on market as of September 2026 (Realtor.com).

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Des Moines housing market, on video

Key takeaways

Homes are taking their time, with a median of about fifty-three days on the market before they sell.
That is not a market where you can rush a buyer.
The typical home value is around two hundred thirty-four thousand dollars, and it is down about three tenths of a percent over the past year.

Updated June 2026All city reports →

Read the transcript

The story in Des Moines this June is patience. Homes are taking their time, with a median of about fifty-three days on the market before they sell. That is not a market where you can rush a buyer. The typical home value is around two hundred thirty-four thousand dollars, and it is down about three tenths of a percent over the past year. So values are essentially flat, sliding just slightly. There are about 744 homes for sale, and roughly 352 new listings came on recently, so buyers have real choices. The median list price sits near two hundred forty-eight thousand five hundred dollars, a bit above what homes are actually worth, which explains why sellers are having to adjust. Right now about eighteen percent of listings have cut their price. Put it together and the message is clear. This is a market that rewards realistic pricing. If you price at fair value from day one, you sell. If you reach, you sit, then cut.

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12-month value trend

+0.2% over 12 months

Sep 2025$225K

Low $225KHigh $227K

Sep 2026$226K

Median Zillow home value index across Des Moines's ZIP codes.

The coverage

Des Moines, by the numbers.

Typical home valueZillow ZHVI, September 2026: $226K
1-yr changeMedian across Des Moines ZIPs: +0.2%
ZIP markets live31 tracked in Des Moines: 11
County: Polk County

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Context

The typical home value in Des Moines is $225,988 as of September 2026, up 0.2% over the past year. That is a flat market, with prices barely moving. There are 916 homes for sale, and 318 of those are new listings, so buyers have a reasonable amount to choose from. Homes are taking a median of 55 days to sell, which is slow enough that sellers need to be patient. The median list price is $252,475, above the typical value, and 30.8% of listings have taken a price cut, a sign that many sellers start too high and adjust later. For a homeowner thinking about selling in Des Moines, the data points to a market where realistic pricing from day one matters more than timing.

The numbers

What is the housing market like in Des Moines, IA?

As of September 2026

Typical home value

$226K

0.2%YoY

Median list price

$252K

Days on market

Homes for sale

916

Price cuts

30.8%

New listings

318

Sources · Zillow ZHVI (September 2026) / Realtor.com (September 2026)

Figures reflect Des Moines's ZIP codes with market data: values and listing medians take the median across ZIPs; inventory and new listings are summed.

Prices over time

Des Moines, IA home prices over time

Typical home values in Des Moines, IA are up 0.2% over the past year, from $225K in September 2025 to $226K in September 2026.

Typical home value in Des Moines, IA, September of each year
Month	Typical value	1-yr change
September 2026	$225,988	+0.2%
September 2025	$225,480	No prior year

Typical value is the median Zillow Home Value Index across Des Moines ZIP codes, taken in September of each year so every row compares the same month.

Market balance

Is Des Moines, IA a buyer's or seller's market?

Des Moines, IA leans toward a buyer's market.

A large share of listings have cut their asking price and homes for sale are building up relative to new listings, which gives buyers more room to negotiate.

Based on a median of 55 days on market and 31% of listings with a price cut in the typical Des Moines ZIP code, and 318 new listings against 916 active listings across Des Moines, as of September 2026 (Realtor.com).

The outlook

Des Moines housing market forecast 2027

+1.4%

Weighted average of Zillow's ZIP forecasts, 12 months to September 2027

A weighted average of Zillow's ZIP forecasts, across 11 Des Moines ZIP codes, points to typical home values rising 1.4% by September 2027.

Over the 12 months through September 2026, typical home values in Des Moines rose 0.2%, per the Zillow Home Value Index.

Will home prices drop in Des Moines?

The forecasts do not call for a drop: a weighted average of Zillow's ZIP forecasts for Des Moines shows typical home values rising 1.4% by September 2027, after a 0.2% rise over the past 12 months. Forecasts are not guarantees: mortgage rates, inventory, and the wider economy can move values either way.

How this is calculated: each ZIP code's 12-month Zillow forecast is weighted by its typical home value (Zillow Home Value Index, September 2026). 11 Des Moines ZIP codes have both figures.

Forecast: a weighted average of Zillow's ZIP forecasts (Zillow Home Value Forecast, published October 2026), calculated by Home Value Pros. A forecast, not a guarantee.

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The markets

Which Des Moines ZIP codes have the highest home values?

Typical value is the Zillow home value index (ZHVI) for each ZIP, as of September 2026. 1-yr change compares it to the same ZIP a year earlier. We track 31 Des Moines ZIP codes in total; the remaining 20 publish as their data clears editorial QA.

Zillow ZHVI, September 2026

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Common questions

Questions about Des Moines, IA home prices.

How much is a home in Des Moines worth?

The typical home value in Des Moines is $225,988 as of September 2026, up 0.2% over the past year. The median list price is higher, at $252,475, which reflects what sellers are asking rather than what typical homes are worth.

How long does it take to sell a house in Des Moines?

Homes in Des Moines spend a median of 55 days on the market as of September 2026. With 30.8% of listings taking a price cut, homes priced too high at the start tend to sit longer.

Is Des Moines a buyer's or seller's market right now?

The figures suggest a balanced to soft market. There are 916 homes for sale with 318 new listings as of September 2026, and values are up only 0.2% over the past year, so buyers have options and sellers face real competition.

Are home prices going up or down in Des Moines, IA?

Typical home values in Des Moines, IA are up 0.2% over the past year, based on the Zillow Home Value Index as of September 2026.

Nearby markets

More Iowa housing markets.

The market is moving

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