Home
The age, condition, layout, lot, and upkeep you are prepared to take on.
THE DES MOINES METROExplore the Des Moines Metro based on what matters to you.
Start with the decision in front of you, understand what affects it, then use that answer to choose where to look next.
Start with what matters
Choose a place by the life it needs to support.
The Ratliff Rule is simple: do not choose a community because someone calls it the best place to live. Identify what matters to you first, then compare the places that support those priorities.
Budget
The purchase price, taxes, improvements, and day-to-day costs that make the move workable.
Location
The places you need to reach often, and the geography that makes daily life easier.
Commute
How much time you want to spend getting where you need to go, now and later.
Community
The streets, amenities, and pace that feel right when you are not at home.
Future
What could change next, from resale needs to a growing household or a different work routine.
Compare with a clear standard
Put the tradeoffs side by side.
When a few places start to stand out, compare them against the same priorities. That makes the conversation more useful than a generic list of favorites.
See how Des Moines, West Des Moines, Ankeny, and Waukee differ when you look at the move as a whole.
Compare four metro communities →Practical guides
Keep a clear plan close by.
Share your contact details, then download the guide that fits your next move.
Explore the communities
Get a feel for the metro, one place at a time.
These are starting points for exploration, not a ranking. Open the places that make sense for your priorities.
What comes next
Turn a clearer location into a practical plan.
Once you know what you want to compare, choose the path that fits the next decision in your move.
Buying
Work through the search, budget, and offer decisions that come next.
Explore buying →Moving to Des Moines
Get oriented to the metro before you narrow the map.
Explore relocation →New Construction
Compare communities, lots, builders, and timing together.
Explore new construction →Selling + Buying
Keep the next home, your current home, and the dates between them in view.
Plan both sides →Helpful reading
Keep the next decision grounded.
A few practical guides for comparing the metro, a budget, and the kind of home you want to pursue.
Local guidance, without the pressure
Ratliff Real Estate Group keeps the local picture connected to your whole move.
Natasha Ratliff, REALTOR®, has spent 11+ years working across the Des Moines Metro and holds the CRS and SRS designations. Through Ratliff Real Estate Group at RE/MAX Precision, she helps clients connect location, new construction, and selling and buying a home at the same time.
Natasha leads the selling strategy while Ken stays focused on the next home, so the decisions keep moving in the same direction.
Meet Natasha and Ken →“Natasha is knowledgeable, passionate about her job, compassionate for her clients and goes above and beyond. She'll be there every step of the way to make sure you are informed and satisfied!”Deborah Haws, Realtor.com testimonial
Answers for the decisions ahead.
How should I compare communities in the Des Moines Metro?
Start with your own priorities, then compare how each place supports them. Home condition, budget, location, commute, community, and future plans give you a practical standard for the comparison.
Should I start with Des Moines or the suburbs?
You do not have to decide that first. A clearer list of priorities will show you which areas are worth exploring, whether that leads you closer to the city, farther out, or somewhere in between.
Where is new construction available around the metro?
New construction is active across several parts of the metro. The useful next step is comparing the lot, builder, timeline, and location with the rest of your move, rather than treating a new home as a single decision.
What is the Des Moines tax abatement?
Tax abatement may be available for qualifying improvements in designated parts of the city. It can change the year-to-year cost of a purchase, so it is worth checking before you rule out an area.
Want to talk through your options?
Bring the priorities that matter most, and we will help you decide what to compare next.