Is Des Moines a buyer's or seller's market right now?

Des Moines is currently a seller's market with 1.6 months of supply. 22.2% of homes sell above asking price, and 46.2% go pending within two weeks. The Ridley Sell Score for Des Moines is 59/100 (Moderate), based on 7 real-time market signals including inventory, pricing trends, and buyer demand.

What's the median home price in Des Moines?

The median home price in Des Moines is $602,500, down 4.1% year-over-year. The median price per square foot is $344. Homes sell in a median of 43 days with a sale-to-list ratio of 97.9%.

How much does it cost to sell a home in Des Moines, Washington?

On a $602,500 home in Des Moines, a traditional listing agent charges around $18,075 (3% commission). Add buyer agent commission (3%), closing costs (1–2%), and you could spend $48,200 or more. With Ridley Essentials ($999) you save $17,076, and with Ridley Pro ($3,499) you save $14,576 while getting full agent support.

How does Ridley's flat fee compare to a traditional Des Moines agent?

A traditional Des Moines listing agent typically charges 3% of the sale price — about $18,075 on a $602,500 home. Ridley offers two flat-fee plans: Essentials ($999) with MLS listing, marketing tools, and self-service support, or Pro ($3,499) with a dedicated licensed agent. That saves you $17,076–$14,576 compared to a traditional agent.

How long does it take to sell a home in Des Moines?

The median home in Des Moines currently spends 43 days on the market before going under contract. 46.2% of homes go pending within two weeks. At a 97.9% sale-to-list ratio, sellers are seeing some negotiation. Only 20.7% of listings see a price drop, suggesting sellers can hold firm on pricing.

Do I need a real estate agent to sell in Washington?

No. Washington does not require you to use a real estate agent to sell your home. You can sell independently (FSBO) or use a flat-fee service like Ridley that gives you MLS access, professional tools, and expert support at a fraction of the traditional commission. On a $602,500 home, that could save you up to $14,576.

What's included with Ridley Essentials and Pro?

Ridley offers two plans in Washington. Essentials ($999) includes MLS listing distribution, professional listing tools, marketing materials, and self-service support. Pro ($3,499) includes everything in Essentials plus a dedicated licensed agent partner, expert pricing consultation, offer review and negotiation support, contract and deadline management, and full closing coordination. Both save significantly vs. the traditional $18,075 commission.

National/Washington

Des Moines, WA

Is Now a Good Time to Sell in Des Moines, Washington?

The median home in Des Moines sells for $602,500 with prices down 4.1% year-over-year. The average seller pays $18,075 in commissions — Ridley’s flat fee saves you $14,576.

Des Moines Real Estate Market Conditions — March 2026

59out of 100

Ridley Sell Score

How it's scored →

Moderate

59/100

A balanced market with opportunities for well-priced homes.

What this means for sellers

The Des Moines market is balanced — neither strongly favoring buyers nor sellers. Accurate pricing is key: overpriced homes will sit, but correctly priced listings are still moving. Focus on presentation and pricing strategy to stand out. Sellers who prepare well can still achieve strong results.

Inventory TightnessFavors sellers

1.6 months of supply — well below the 5-month balanced threshold — 48% below the Washington average of 3.1.

Price MomentumFavors buyers

Prices down 4.1% year-over-year — vs. -3.4% statewide.

Seller LeverageNeutral

Homes selling at 97.9% of asking — buyers are negotiating 2.1% below list. Washington average is 98.9%.

Bidding ActivityNeutral

22.2% of homes selling above list price — 5% below the Washington average of 23.3%.

Sale SpeedFavors sellers

43 median days on market — 17 days faster than the Washington average.

Market UrgencyFavors sellers

46.2% of listings go pending within 2 weeks — vs. 37.3% statewide.

Price StabilityNeutral

20.7% of listings have dropped their price. Washington average is 25.7%.

Score based on 7 real-time market signals. Updated with latest available data.

How it works →

Median Sale Price

The midpoint price of all homes sold in the past month. Half sold for more, half for less.

$602,500

-4.1%

Days on Market

How long the typical home sits on the market before going under contract. Lower is better for sellers.

Price per Sq Ft

Average cost per square foot of living space. Useful for comparing homes of different sizes.

$344

Sale-to-List Ratio

How close homes sell to their asking price. Above 100% means bidding wars; below means negotiation room.

97.9%

Months of Supply

How long it would take to sell all current listings at the current pace. Under 3 months favors sellers; over 6 favors buyers.

1.6

Seller’s market

Competitiveness

Overall market competition based on offers per listing, days on market, and sale-to-list ratio.

Somewhat Competitive

Sold Above List

Percentage of homes that sold for more than their list price.

22.2%

Room to negotiate

Price Drops

Percentage of active listings that had a price reduction.

20.7%

Pricing matters

Pending in 2 Weeks

Percentage of listings that went under contract within 14 days.

46.2%

Moderate pace

12-Month Price Trend

$557,500 → $602,500

▲8.1%

$650K$600K$550K

AprJunAugOctDecFebMar

Data updated March 2026

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Personalized pricing signals, demand shifts, and Sell Score changes for Des Moines — delivered monthly.

Your savings

How much can you save selling your home in Des Moines?

The average Des Moines homeowner saves $14,576 by selling with Ridley instead of paying the traditional 3% listing commission on a $602,500 home.

$0Estimated savings

That's a dream family vacation — save 2.4% of your home value

Your Des Moines home value

$602,500

$50,000$10M

Traditional Agent (3%)

$18,075

Ridley Pro (flat fee)

$3,499

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Get a personalized selling strategy with AI-powered pricing analysis

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Cost comparison

How much does it cost to sell a house in Des Moines?

The total cost to sell a house in Des Moines in 2026 ranges from $999 with Ridley Essentials to approximately $18,075 with a traditional 3% commission on a $602,500 home.

	Traditional Agent	Best valueRidley Pro	Ridley Essentials	FSBO
Listing fee	$18,075	$3,499	$999	$0
Buyer agent	$16,8702.8% avg	$12,050~2% avg	$12,050~2% avg	$16,8702.8% avg
Closing costs (~1.5%)	$9,038	$9,038	$9,038	$9,038
Total cost	$43,983	$24,587	$22,087	$25,908
Net proceeds	$558,517	$577,913	$580,413	$576,592
You save	—	$14,576	$17,076	$18,075No support