How much house does $500,000 buy you in Des Moines?

Back in 2014, spending $500,000 on a house was generally reserved for high earners. The typical U.S. home sold for $159,000, while starter homes averaged just $101,000. Fast-forward to today, and prices have more than doubled: A standard home now sells for $440,000, with starter homes approaching $300,000. 

These current prices have put homeownership out of reach for many – and things don't look to be improving. Prices are still rising, affordability keeps dropping, and starter homes are becoming harder to find as home values climb. This has created a very sluggish and difficult housing market. In fact, even the usual busy spring and summer buying seasons were unusually slow this year.

While $500,000 once stretched much further, in many cities today, it's not nearly enough. But what about Des Moines?

To find out, Redfin Real Estate found listings near the $500,000 mark to see what types of homes you can actually afford in Des Moines right now. Listings below $500,000 were included if necessary.

301 Magnolia Pt, Winterset, IA 50273
- Price: $499,900
- 6 bedrooms, 3.5 bathrooms
- Square feet: 2,351
- See 301 Magnolia Pt, Winterset, IA 50273 on Redfin.com

9733 Hazelwood Ave, Johnston, IA 50131
- Price: $499,000
- 5 bedrooms, 4.5 bathrooms
- Square feet: 2,538
- See 9733 Hazelwood Ave, Johnston, IA 50131 on Redfin.com

8864 Nw Beaver Dr, Johnston, IA 50131
- Price: $500,000
- 5 bedrooms, 4.5 bathrooms
- Square feet: 1,500
- See 8864 Nw Beaver Dr, Johnston, IA 50131 on Redfin.com

435 Nw Ryder Dr, Waukee, IA 50263
- Price: $494,900
- 5 bedrooms, 3.8 bathrooms
- Square feet: 2,628
- See 435 Nw Ryder Dr, Waukee, IA 50263 on Redfin.com

1410 S 91St St, West Des Moines, IA 50266
- Price: $499,900
- 5 bedrooms, 3.8 bathrooms
- Square feet: 2,628
- See 1410 S 91St St, West Des Moines, IA 50266 on Redfin.com

143 10Th Ave Ne, Altoona, IA 50009
- Price: $499,900
- 5 bedrooms, 3.8 bathrooms
- Square feet: 2,628
- See 143 10Th Ave Ne, Altoona, IA 50009 on Redfin.com

4585 Se 35Th Ct, Des Moines, IA 50320
- Price: $495,000
- 5 bedrooms, 3.5 bathrooms
- Square feet: 2,471
- See 4585 Se 35Th Ct, Des Moines, IA 50320 on Redfin.com

9601 Ne 28Th Ct, Ankeny, IA 50021
- Price: $499,900
- 5 bedrooms, 3.3 bathrooms
- Square feet: 1,953
- See 9601 Ne 28Th Ct, Ankeny, IA 50021 on Redfin.com

655 Ne Dellwood Dr, Waukee, IA 50263
- Price: $490,000
- 5 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms
- Square feet: 1,665
- See 655 Ne Dellwood Dr, Waukee, IA 50263 on Redfin.com

980 Daybreak Dr, Waukee, IA 50263
- Price: $500,000
- 5 bedrooms, 2.8 bathrooms
- Square feet: 1,601
- See 980 Daybreak Dr, Waukee, IA 50263 on Redfin.com

411 Ne Madison Ave, Elkhart, IA 50073
- Price: $490,000
- 5 bedrooms, 2.8 bathrooms
- Square feet: 1,593
- See 411 Ne Madison Ave, Elkhart, IA 50073 on Redfin.com

6613 Panorama Dr, Panora, IA 50216
- Price: $492,500
- 5 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms
- Square feet: 1,533
- See 6613 Panorama Dr, Panora, IA 50216 on Redfin.com

465 Nw Gracewood Dr, Waukee, IA 50263
- Price: $494,900
- 4 bedrooms, 3.8 bathrooms
- Square feet: 2,350
- See 465 Nw Gracewood Dr, Waukee, IA 50263 on Redfin.com

1625 S 50Th Pl, West Des Moines, IA 50265
- Price: $500,000
- 4 bedrooms, 3.3 bathrooms
- Square feet: 2,170
- See 1625 S 50Th Pl, West Des Moines, IA 50265 on Redfin.com

916 Ne Silkwood St, Grimes, IA 50111
- Price: $495,000
- 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms
- Square feet: 1,627
- See 916 Ne Silkwood St, Grimes, IA 50111 on Redfin.com

400 N 14Th Ave, Winterset, IA 50273
- Price: $499,900
- 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms
- Square feet: 1,540
- See 400 N 14Th Ave, Winterset, IA 50273 on Redfin.com

2284 Se Preserve Ct, West Des Moines, IA 50265
- Price: $495,000
- 4 bedrooms, 2.8 bathrooms
- Square feet: 2,623
- See 2284 Se Preserve Ct, West Des Moines, IA 50265 on Redfin.com

1412 S 92Nd St, West Des Moines, IA 50266
- Price: $494,000
- 4 bedrooms, 2.8 bathrooms
- Square feet: 2,326
- See 1412 S 92Nd St, West Des Moines, IA 50266 on Redfin.com

2819 Nw Greenwood St, Ankeny, IA 50023
- Price: $493,000
- 4 bedrooms, 2.8 bathrooms
- Square feet: 1,535
- See 2819 Nw Greenwood St, Ankeny, IA 50023 on Redfin.com

520 Creekview Ave, Polk City, IA 50226
- Price: $499,900
- 4 bedrooms, 2.8 bathrooms
- Square feet: 1,502
- See 520 Creekview Ave, Polk City, IA 50226 on Redfin.com

2430 Se 5Th St, West Des Moines, IA 50265
- Price: $495,000
- 4 bedrooms, 2.8 bathrooms
- Square feet: 1,497
- See 2430 Se 5Th St, West Des Moines, IA 50265 on Redfin.com

354 S 91St St, West Des Moines, IA 50266
- Price: $499,900
- 4 bedrooms, 2.8 bathrooms
- Square feet: 1,395
- See 354 S 91St St, West Des Moines, IA 50266 on Redfin.com

220 11Th Ct Nw, Bondurant, IA 50035
- Price: $495,500
- 4 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms
- Square feet: 1,636
- See 220 11Th Ct Nw, Bondurant, IA 50035 on Redfin.com

1028 2Nd St Ne, Altoona, IA 50009
- Price: $499,900
- 4 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms
- Square feet: 1,613
- See 1028 2Nd St Ne, Altoona, IA 50009 on Redfin.com

55 Nw Ashley Ct, Waukee, IA 50263
- Price: $499,900
- 4 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms
- Square feet: 1,506
- See 55 Nw Ashley Ct, Waukee, IA 50263 on Redfin.com

1845 Silver Maple Dr, Norwalk, IA 50211
- Price: $499,900
- 4 bedrooms, 2.3 bathrooms
- Square feet: 2,260
- See 1845 Silver Maple Dr, Norwalk, IA 50211 on Redfin.com

4647 178Th St, Urbandale, IA 50323
- Price: $499,900
- 4 bedrooms, 2.3 bathrooms
- Square feet: 2,208
- See 4647 178Th St, Urbandale, IA 50323 on Redfin.com

301 Walnut Dr, Norwalk, IA 50211
- Price: $495,900
- 4 bedrooms, 2.3 bathrooms
- Square feet: 2,129
- See 301 Walnut Dr, Norwalk, IA 50211 on Redfin.com

2740 Se Florence Dr, Waukee, IA 50263
- Price: $489,990
- 3 bedrooms, 1.8 bathrooms
- Square feet: 1,800
- See 2740 Se Florence Dr, Waukee, IA 50263 on Redfin.com

5271 Tie Rd, Panora, IA 50216
- Price: $495,000
- 2 bedrooms, 1.5 bathrooms
- Square feet: 1,664
- See 5271 Tie Rd, Panora, IA 50216 on Redfin.com