Where Can Buyers Find Homes Under $400K in the Des Moines Metro?
Updated 2026 · Written by Natasha Ratliff, CRS, SRS
If your budget is under $400,000, what you find will depend heavily on community, housing age, property condition, and whether you are looking at resale or new construction.
Compare the whole home, not just the list price.
A budget under $400,000 may open the door to established resale homes, townhomes, newer suburban homes, smaller new-construction opportunities, finished lower levels, or more lot space farther from the urban core.
- Location and commute
- Age, condition, and maintenance
- Space, lot size, and newer finishes
What does a $400K budget buy around Des Moines?
A $400,000 ceiling can look very different depending on where you search. One area may offer an older home, a more established setting, mature trees, and possible renovation needs. Another may offer newer systems, modern finishes, and a longer drive. Compare the complete property and cost of owning it, not the asking price alone.
If your priorities are more flexible than a fixed ceiling, compare where your budget may buy more space and features across the metro.
Altoona and Pleasant Hill
Good areas to compare when value and east-metro access matter.
Compare established housing with newer development, including resale homes, townhomes, newer subdivisions, and different amounts of interior space. Look beyond price at commute, taxes, home age, maintenance, and proximity to the places you use regularly.
Compare Des Moines and the suburbs before narrowing your list.
Bondurant
Worth comparing when space and newer housing are priorities.
Compare lot size, finished square footage, basement finish, garage size, construction age, commute, builder history, warranty coverage, and total monthly cost. Newer does not automatically mean lower maintenance or better value.
Ankeny
More choices, with different trade-offs by location and property.
Ankeny offers established resale homes, townhomes, newer homes, and occasional new-construction opportunities. Ask what your budget buys there compared with other communities, including price per square foot, lot size, HOA costs, condition, updates, and commute.
Grimes
Useful for buyers comparing newer development.
Separate the base price from the finished cost. Lot premiums, upgrades, appliances, landscaping, HOA obligations, and closing costs can change the final number.
See new-construction considerations under $400K before deciding whether a new build fits.
Urbandale and established metro areas
Older housing can offer a different kind of value.
Value may come from location, central access, existing finished square footage, and larger established lots. Those benefits can come with roof, HVAC, window, electrical, plumbing, or cosmetic work. A lower purchase price does not automatically mean a lower total ownership cost.
Explore older-home neighborhood guidance for a closer look at that trade-off.
Choose the trade-off that fits your plan.
Resale may offer
- Established neighborhoods
- Mature landscaping and larger lots
- Finished basements and existing upgrades
- More central locations
New construction may offer
- Newer systems and modern layouts
- Warranties and efficiency improvements
- Fewer immediate cosmetic projects
- Builder-specific terms and added costs
How to compare homes under $400K
Purchase price
Aim for a payment range that feels comfortable, not simply the maximum approval.
Total monthly payment
Include principal, interest, taxes, insurance, and HOA fees where applicable.
Condition and age
Look at likely first-year expenses and the maintenance profile of the home.
Commute and space
Compare your daily drive with bedrooms, finished space, basement, lot, and garage.
Long-term fit
Consider whether the home will still support your plans if needs change.
What buyers often miss
List price is not the full cost
Two homes with the same price can have very different monthly and long-term expenses.
One suburb is not always cheaper
Inventory changes, and a better fit can appear in a different area from week to week.
New construction has extras
The advertised price may not include every feature shown in the model home.
Approval is not a target
Keep emergency savings and other financial goals in view when setting your range.
Keep the budget connected to the bigger picture.
Natasha Ratliff, CRS, SRS, helps buyers compare homes by condition, housing age, commute, maintenance expectations, new-construction costs, and how comfortably the payment fits their broader plans.
“Shepherded us through the process from start to finish. She helped answer my million questions.”Garrison and Monica Goodlett, Realtor.com testimonial
Ratliff Real Estate Group is brokered by RE/MAX Precision.
Homes under $400K in the Des Moines metro
Can I still buy a home under $400K in the Des Moines metro?+
Depending on current inventory, buyers can find homes below $400,000 in several metro communities. Home type, condition, age, and location will vary, so compare several areas before narrowing your search.
Where should I start looking?+
Start with your priorities. Newer housing, central access, mature neighborhoods, lot size, and commute can point you toward different communities.
Can I find new construction under $400K?+
Sometimes. Availability, builder offerings, lot costs, incentives, and selected upgrades change, so verify the current home and complete price before assuming it fits.
Should I buy an older home to get more space?+
Possibly. Older homes can offer established locations and finished space, but inspection findings and future maintenance should be part of the decision.
Should I spend the full $400K if I am approved for it?+
Not necessarily. A comfortable monthly payment, emergency savings, repairs, and other financial goals matter more than the maximum amount a lender approves.
Looking for a home under $400K?
Compare communities, property types, and total ownership costs before narrowing the search.