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.

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.

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.

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.

No longer tethered to office locations, workers now enjoy unprecedented freedom in choosing where to live.

Three major benefits of buying a home before 2024.