Property Taxes in Des Moines area

[CyinCo]

What kind of taxes could someone expect from a home with a sell price of $300,000 on about 0.5 acres of land in the following communities:

West Des Moines
Urbandale
Waukee
Clive
Johnston
Ankeny

The assessed value isn't the sell price, right? If anyone can give me a feel for what to expect, I would appreciate it. Thanks.

edit: Just to clarify, I'm not looking for exact figures. I would just like some ball park numbers.

 

[Cyclonepride]

What kind of taxes could someone expect from a home with a sell price of $300,000 on about 0.5 acres of land in the following communities:

West Des Moines
Urbandale
Waukee
Clive
Johnston
Ankeny

The assessed value isn't the sell price, right? If anyone can give me a feel for what to expect, I would appreciate it. Thanks.

I'm not sure exactly, but try a house search on here:

Iowa Realty -- Residential real estate in Des Moines and throughout Iowa

 

[CyinCo]

I'm not sure exactly, but try a house search on here:

Iowa Realty -- Residential real estate in Des Moines and throughout Iowa

I've been doing that on Realtor.com but most of the MLS listings say nothing about taxes.

I'd be interested in knowing what Polk City is like as well.

 

[Jer]

We currently live in Huxley and Story County is about as high as you'll find in the midwest. You would think Polk County would be higher but Story County takes the cake due to all of the ISU and DOT property that doesn't bring in taxes. I don't remember the exact figure but a heck of a lot of the land in and around Ames causes the huge spike in property taxes.

As a comparison, we've spent the last several months searching for a new house in the WDM, Ankeny, Waukee, Windsor Heights and Grimes ares and the property taxes were considerably lower (around 20-40% lower depending on the exact location).

 

[iceclone]

I've been doing that on Realtor.com but most of the MLS listings say nothing about taxes.

I'd be interested in knowing what Polk City is like as well.

You can cross-check the properties that your are interested in with the county assessor database:

Polk/Des Moines Assessor - General Query

That will give you the current assessment and tax estimates (you have to click on "estimate taxes." Generally the assessment is lower than the selling price.

 

[CyinCo]

You can cross-check the properties that your are interested in with the county assessor database:

Polk/Des Moines Assessor - General Query

That will give you the current assessment and tax estimates (you have to click on "estimate taxes." Generally the assessment is lower than the selling price.

I tried this but the property I looked at only showed a $2 tax. I only looked at one so maybe it was just wrong. With that site, would you expect it to show all taxes assessed on a property?? I always thoughts that the cities assessed a tax as well.

 

[dmclone]

In Johnston, you would pay about 5,500/year.Most of the suburbs are very close in tax rates. The Des Moines metro is a lot more expensive.

 

[CyinCo]

In Johnston, you would pay about 5,500/year.Most of the suburbs are very close in tax rates. The Des Moines metro is a lot more expensive.

OK. That is about what I'm seeing and, frankly, that is insane. Before you even get a loan, you already have a $450+ per month. How can taxes possibly be this high?

I currently pay about $1200 per year. My wife and I were exploring moving back to central Iowa and, if we did, we wanted to upgrade to a bigger house with a larger lot. Our payment would about double due to the tax issue coming into play.

 

[dmclone]

They are high but I'm guessing that a $300K house here would be equal to a $500K house where your at now?

 

[CyinCo]

They are high but I'm guessing that a $300K house here would be equal to a $500K house where your at now?

I think homes are very comparable between here and there. Lots here are smaller than there but that is about it.

 

[loboclone]

OK. That is about what I'm seeing and, frankly, that is insane. Before you even get a loan, you already have a $450+ per month. How can taxes possibly be this high?

I currently pay about $1200 per year. My wife and I were exploring moving back to central Iowa and, if we did, we wanted to upgrade to a bigger house with a larger lot. Our payment would about double due to the tax issue coming into play.

Taxes, property, income and sales taxes are why some of us choose to live elsewhere. Since you currently live in Colorado you have an advantage over Iowa in tax.
I live in New Mexico with a home assesed at over 400K with .5 acres and pay $1260/year. Iowa that would be over $5,000/year. Lets not even bother talking about weather, sales taxes, license fees, and state Income tax!

 

[dmclone]

If I was you I would stay in Colorado. Not a slam against Iowa (I do live here) but I see very few reasons why I wouldn't rather live in Colorado.

 

[CyinCo]

If I was you I would stay in Colorado. Not a slam against Iowa (I do live here) but I see very few reasons why I wouldn't rather live in Colorado.

Agreed. We like CO better. But all of our family is in Iowa. We use all our vacation just to see family and the drive is long. Before we had a kid it was different. Now, everything has changed.

 

[06_CY]

I've driven from Ames to Loveland/Keystone a few times; central Nebraska to the Colorado state line is BORING.

Might be better off to try a little further west or south instead of the direct metro area.

 

[Wesley]

In Omaha 300k would pull in 7500. You have it better in DM. A plush 400k house in Omaha pays $10k a year. Lower property taxes are in California.

Most $$$ go to the schools.

High property taxes serve to drive house prices down in the Midwest.

 

[HILLCYD]

OK. That is about what I'm seeing and, frankly, that is insane. Before you even get a loan, you already have a $450+ per month. How can taxes possibly be this high?

I currently pay about $1200 per year. My wife and I were exploring moving back to central Iowa and, if we did, we wanted to upgrade to a bigger house with a larger lot. Our payment would about double due to the tax issue coming into play.

You can find MUCH cheaper taxes in communities surrounding Des Moines area. I have a fairly new house with 4 BR on 5 acres near Granger Iowa and I pay $2700 a year.

 

[CyinCo]

Might be better off to try a little further west or south instead of the direct metro area.

We can afford the metro area and would prefer to live there. I'm just having some heartburn over having that much money just going to taxes when it could be going to a mortgage and buying much more house.

 

[cycloneworld]

At least property taxes are tax deductible.

Also, be prepared for your taxes to go up 10-20% every 2 years.

 

[twojman]

We live in Clive and our taxes are $1700/ year. Note that we live in a 'flood zone' so they lower the tax, but we have to pay about $800 per year in flood insurance. This area did not even flood in 1993!!!!

There is a house up the street from us for sale. The asking price is $279,900. I do not know what the assessed value is, but the taxes are something like $3850. The state of Iowa is taxed way too much. Maybe local government should stop with all the corporate welfare and tax these companies instead of the employees.

 

[brianhos]

In ankeny and assesed value of $300k would hit you about $4800 a year. Disgusting how much property taxes are... We need more taxes. We should just raise all taxes to 100% and finish this game right now.