See the most expensive Des Moines area homes sold from 2013 to 2024
The price of top-end residential real estate in the Des Moines metro is soaring.
Just 12 years ago, when the Des Moines Register began tracking seven-figure home sales, only eight homes sold for more than $1 million, and the priciest went for $1.52 million. In 2024 the most expensive home sold for $5.4 million — more than 3 1/2 times as much.
That’s almost twice the growth in the metro’s median home sales price for the same period. According to Des Moines Area Association of Realtors statistics, the 2013 median price was $164,500. In 2024, it was $299,900, an increase of less than two-fold.
And the volume of seven-figure listings is increasing apace. The metro had its first $1 million home sale in 1993. As of Dec. 31, there were 95 homes listed for more than $1 million, according to Les Sulgrove, a former Des Moines Area Association of Realtors president and metro area market analyst.
Here are the most expensive homes sold in the Des Moines metro area from 2013 to 2024, with the exception of 2019, for which figures were unavailable. The data came from publicly accessible information: home sales listings and the records at the Polk and Dallas County assessors’ offices.
Descriptions of the homes describe their state at the time of their sale, and may not reflect more recent renovations.
2013: $1.52 million, Glen Oaks Country Club, West Des Moines
This home sold in 2013 for $1.52 million in Glen Oaks Country Club. It had 5,122 square feet of living space, four bedrooms, four bathrooms and was built in 2009.
2014: $1.63 million, South of Grand, Des Moines
Businessman Jim Cownie sold the most expensive home in 2014, in Des Moines’ South of Grand neighborhood, for $1.6 million to a company he owned. A representative told the Des Moines Register at the time that the sale was for estate purposes.
The 7,881-square-foot home was built in 1914 and included a pool and tennis court, according to Polk County Assessor’s records. It sat on 1.6 acres on 37th Street in the Greenwood Historic neighborhood.
2015: $1.1 million, Lincoln Place Drive, Des Moines
Built in 1916, this mansion was formerly the home of real estate mogul Bill Van Orsdel. The 9,000-square-foot home had five bedrooms, six bathrooms and four fireplaces at the time. It also had a 3,652-square-foot patio.
A separate, three-story home was included in the sale, with 3,015 square feet with its own pool and hot tub.
It was the most-expensive home sold in the metro in 2015, fetching $1.1 million. It was sold again in early 2016 for $1.3 million, but was the fourth-costliest home sold that year.
2016: $1.955 million, Maffit Lake Road, Cumming
Sitting on 24 wooded acres west of the Dale Maffitt Reservoir, this estate featured a 7,151-square-foot style house built in 2005. It had three bedrooms and seven bathrooms at the time of its sale in 2016. Geothermal heat, a theater and exercise room were also features.
Outside, the home had a pool, a built-in-hot tub, two waterfalls, a patio and kitchen. A separate, 7,200-square-foot, climate-controlled building had four horse stalls.
2017: $4.5 million, Tulip Tree Lane, West Des Moines
Located in Glen Oaks Country Club in West Des Moines, this 12,175-square-foot mansion had five bedrooms, 11 bathrooms, four fireplaces, two catering kitchens, a two-level theater, wine room and an elevator at the time of its sale in 2017.
It sat on 5 acres with a view of the golf course and had a pool, outdoor kitchen and separate guest house. At the time it was the second-most-expensive home ever sold in the Des Moines metro.
2018: $2.33 million, Tuscany Boulevard, Ankeny
Built by the sellers in 2001, this 10,000-square-foot mansion sat on the 19-hole private Talons of Tuscany golf course when it was sold in 2018. It included a 6,000-square-foot basement and a garage with room for six cars. There also were five bedrooms, nine bathrooms, a swimming pool and an extra-large patio.
2019: Not available
Data for the most expensive home sold in 2019 was not available.
2020: $2 million, Brookview Drive, Urbandale
This 6,800-square-foot home in Urbandale had four bedrooms and six bathrooms when it was sold in 2020. It had a theater room, a wine cellar and exercise room. A guest house had two bedrooms with a kitchen and patio overlooking the pool. Collectively the two homes had five fireplaces and garage space for five cars.
This home also sold in 2024 for $3.15 million.
2021: $5.3 million, Tulip Tree Lane, West Des Moines
Built in 1993, this 9,000-square-foot home in the Glen Oaks Country Club neighborhood had five bedrooms and 11 bathrooms when it was sold in 2021. It featured several fireplaces, including one in the owner’s suite, plus a full bar and kitchen in the basement, a wine cellar and a theater room. The property sat on 5.3 acres with a pool.
2022: $4 million, Deer Creek, Urbandale
This six-bedroom, six-bathroom home had an elevator, large theater room and a geothermal heating and air conditioning system when it was sold in 2022. Built in 2012, it had 4,078 square feet of living space. Its kitchen had two islands and two pantries.
The home also featured a sauna, workout room and executive office with a conference room. The glass walls on its patios were retractable and there was a massive, stone-accented wine cellar.
2023: $3.4 million, Bella Strada Lane, Johnston
This four-bedroom, six-bathroom home built in 2017 had an elevator when it was sold in 2023. Fireplaces could be controlled from a cellphone.
The main level featured an open living room. The kitchen seated up to 10 people and featured an 11-foot-long island. The master bedroom had French doors leading to a private deck, a three-sided Italian fireplace and a coffee bar.
2024: $5.4 million, El Dorado Point, West Des Moines
Built in 2018 on 7 acres off of South Jordan Creek Parkway, this home had a full indoor basketball court, five bedrooms, seven bathrooms and 4,954 square feet of living space. There also was a four-car garage. It had a gated entry and a two-story foyer with a floor-to-ceiling fireplace.
The listing described the home’s dining room as a “show stopper!”
In addition to the basketball court, the 5,600-square-foot gym had a golf simulator and game room. Outside, the deck featured a hot tub, saltwater pool and fire pit.
(This story was updated to change a video.)
Philip Joens covers retail and real estate for the Des Moines Register. He can be reached at 515-284-8184, pjoens@registermedia.com or on Twitter @Philip_Joens.