Looking for the best coffee shops in Des Moines? Here are my top 5 in the metro, and I said what I said. Northern Vessel has my favorite cold brew latte, Mars Cafe is the top spot to run into someone you know, and Daisy Chain is the best quality brew. Horizon Line serves everything in reusable jars to go, and Scenic Route Bakery is a good spot for meeting, with great pastries. Which one did I miss?

Home buying tips Des Moines buyers and sellers need to hear: eight hills I will die on as your real estate agent. The "perfect" house doesn't exist, your Zestimate isn't your home's value, and I never recommend waiving the inspection, even in a bidding war. Pre-qualified is basically a guess, the highest offer doesn't always win, and countertops are a weekend project while location isn't.

It's where my family and I enjoy spending a few September Saturdays, and it's become a favorite fall thing to do in central Iowa. We picked our own apples, hit the jumping pillow, played in the corn pile, tried the corn maze and zipline, and finished with apple cider donuts. Then we turned those apples into an easy apple dump cake. A great fall day trip from West Des Moines, Waukee, or Clive.

My own fall date-night list needed new material, so here are four spots worth trying in West Des Moines and Clive: Guesthouse Tavern + Oyster, Tom Archer's Poor Man's Country Club, Aura Restaurant & Lounge, and Prime & Providence. Then it's your turn. Pick one, take your person, and tell me about it. A good date-night spot isn't really about the restaurant. It's about loving the town you live in.

Pumpkins. Coffee. Trails. Dinner. Fall in West Des Moines hits different, and we've mapped out how we like to spend it so you don't have to. From Valley Junction lattes and cat cuddles at Coffee Cats Cafe to a shaded walk through Walnut Woods, a family trip to Howell's Pumpkin Patch, and a pint at Barn Town Brewing, here are the places that make West Des Moines feel like fall.

Move-up buyer in Des Moines? A Beaverdale family bought their charming first home, then a second baby was on the way. Their 3-bedroom, 1-bath starter home stopped fitting, but a bigger mortgage and selling while buying gave them pause. See how a plan built on real numbers and a timeline moved them into a beautiful 5-bedroom home in Urbandale, and what it could mean for your family.

5 Des Moines Golf Courses I Love Playing with my clients, and a few of them you can actually get on. I'm a Des Moines REALTOR® who thinks four hours, a cart, and a few bad shots off the tee is the best way to get to know someone. From private clubs like Glen Oaks and Des Moines Golf & Country Club to public favorites in Polk City, Norwalk, and Ankeny, here are the five I like the most.

Planning a day at the 2026 Iowa State Fair? Here's a rundown of the attractions worth planning around, from the butter cow and barnyard yoga to the free concert stage, plus the new foods and foods on a stick that caught our eye, free shuttle pickup spots, fair hours, and a few tips to make the day easier for the whole family.

Waukee, Urbandale, West Des Moines, or Clive: how do you actually pick? Compare the vibe, school districts, price ranges, new construction and HOAs, and trail access in each west metro community side by side, and find out which one fits what you're really looking for in your next home, whether that's something new, an established neighborhood, or the best value.

This year is America's 250th birthday! Here's where to catch Fourth of July fireworks around the Des Moines metro, from Urbandale, Waukee, and West Des Moines to Altoona, Norwalk, and Ames. Get show times, locations, and the parades, concerts, and festivals to pair them with, plus a few smaller, easy-parking options if you want to skip the biggest crowds.

The families who settle in before September usually start their home search in June. Learn why early summer is the sweet spot, how to check school district boundaries before you tour, and a realistic timeline from pre-approval to closing, so your kids are enrolled and unpacked before the back-to-school rush.

Looking for a splash pad or park this weekend? This Des Moines area family guide covers splash pads, spray grounds (most are free) and top parks with inclusive playgrounds. Be sure to read through the quick reference chart and included tips for a great visit. Always confirm hours before you go. A community resource from Steven Bunting, REALTOR®.

You don't need a landscaping overhaul for a better first impression. From potted plants and a painted front door to updated hardware, power washing, mulch, lighting, and a mailbox refresh — here are 10 curb appeal upgrades that stay under $100, most well under it.

Ready to declutter before your next move? Here's what actually sells at a garage sale (kids' gear, tools, small furniture), what to skip, and how to price it. Including the 10-30% rule, tips for clear labeling and bundling, and a full pricing guide by category, from clothing to furniture to electronics.

Selling your home in West Des Moines this spring means more buyers, but also more competing sellers. Get ahead by handling repairs now, pricing with real comparable sales instead of a generic online estimate, and planning your own timeline before you list. Photos, pricing, and first-weekend momentum matter most in a crowded spring market. Ready to plan your listing?

This spring, families across West Des Moines, Clive, and Urbandale have several Easter egg hunt options. From a self-guided storybook journey at WDM Community Church to a glow-in-the-dark hunt at the Children's Museum, a Hy-Vee scramble in Clive, and Living History Farms' annual tradition in Urbandale. Here's a quick rundown of who's hosting what.

Selling one home and buying the next at the same time sounds like doubling your risk, but it doesn't have to be. With a clear pricing strategy, the right financing options, and one coordinated plan instead of two separate moves, you can leverage your equity, and avoid getting stuck in between homes.

A veteran-owned, small-batch ice cream shop in West Des Moines has become our family's favorite spot. Premium ice cream, all-natural ingredients, and new flavors every single day. Here's what we're ordering.

My fantastic experience at The Ingersoll Dinner Theatre!

Six predictions for the 2026 real estate market in central Iowa