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
 
   
   
  