Peter Jones, Realtor

11/02/2026

Most upgrades you can add to a house later. A trail out your back door isn’t one of them.

I grew up in Urbandale and live in Johnston, and being able to walk out my door and onto a trail in a few minutes changes how a house fits your life. On a Tuesday, not just on weekends.

If trail access is on your list for the next home, here’s what’s actually on the ground around the metro:

Waukee: Kettlestone trailhead on the 89-mile Raccoon River Valley Trail
Clive: about 8 miles of Greenbelt Trail along the creek
West Des Moines: Jordan Creek Trail, linked to shopping and errands
Johnston: Terra Park and Saylorville Lake

I also cover what backing to a trail is really worth, and the 5 things to check before you buy one (easements, drainage, fencing rules and more).

Read it here:

What trail access is worth to a home, which metro trails run through which towns, and what to check before you buy a lot that backs to one.

11/02/2026

Looking for a yard?

This one has a big, open backyard and a deck off the back of the house, and there's still time to get settled before the snow falls.

• 3 bedrooms
• Finished basement
• A garage that runs about 40 feet deep

Comment INFO and I'll send you the full listing, or call/text 515-585-9849 to see it in person.

11/01/2026

Homes in the Des Moines metro now take about two months to sell.

September numbers from DMAAR:
→ 5,028 homes for sale (up 14% from last year)
→ 61 median days on market (last year it was 51)
→ Pending sales down 16.5%

Buyers have more homes to choose from, and they’re taking their time. If you’re selling the home you’ve outgrown, three things matter most: price, prep and photos. Plan for about two months before you write an offer on the next house.

Your current home pays for the next one.

Comment MOVE UP and I’ll send you my free Move Up Guide. 👇

10/31/2026

There's one room in this house I would never leave, and technically it's not even inside.

K**b Hill Drive, on the east side of Des Moines. A quiet, tree-lined street a few minutes from the Iowa State Fairgrounds, about 10 minutes from downtown, with Altoona right down the road.

• 3-season porch: morning coffee, no bugs, a front-row seat when the summer storms roll in
• Nearly half an acre of yard: room for a garden, a dog that gets to run, a fire pit for fall nights
• 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 2 family rooms

Comment INFO and I'll send you the full listing, or comment SHOWING and we'll set up a time to see it.

10/30/2026

Condos used to be the easy starter home. Right now they can be one of the hardest things to buy, and to sell.

It comes down to the HOA's finances. Lenders look at the association's reserves, and when there isn't enough in the bank, financing gets hard. Even cash buyers walk away, because low reserves usually mean higher dues or a special assessment down the road.

Buying or selling a condo? Ask about the reserves first.

Questions about a specific building? Call/text 515-585-9849 or grab 20 minutes on my calendar (calendly.com/peterwjonesrealtor).

10/30/2026

Altoona has a new way to get around town, and it works a little differently than a regular bus. 🚐

Since September 28, DART On Demand lets you book a ride from your phone. It picks you up at a corner a block or two from home and drops you at one of 15 spots around town, like Fareway, Hy-Vee, the library, urgent care, Target, Walmart or the Outlets. A ride costs $3.50.

The catch is the schedule. On Demand runs weekdays only, 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., and the last booking is at 5:45. Nights and weekends, you’re on Routes 11 and 12, which only run along the main corridors.

I broke down where it goes, what it costs, and which ride fits which trip (including the Saturday gap most people won’t notice until they need it) 👇

https://peterjonesrealty.com/blog/altoonas-new-dart-on-demand-where-it-goes-when-it-runs-and-how-it-fits-with-the-bus-changes

Know someone in Altoona who’d use this? Tag them or share it.

10/29/2026

5088 Grand Ridge Dr, West Des Moines.

• 3.37 acres
• Wooded, with a walkout
• No HOA
• No preferred builder requirement: you choose who builds your home

Room to build exactly what you want, without an HOA telling you how.

Comment INFO and I'll send you the details, or call/text 515-585-9849 to walk the land with me.

Two closings, one moving truck. That's what the free Move-Up Seller Guide plans out. Comment MOVEUP for your copy.

10/29/2026

The Fed held rates yesterday. Here’s what that means if you’ve outgrown your house. ⬇️

This morning, mortgage rates barely moved: about $20 a month on a typical loan. That’s not a reason to rush, and it’s not a reason to wait.

What decides your move:
→ What your current home sells for
→ What you walk away with after the sale
→ Whether you buy first or sell first

I put all of it in one free guide: Selling to Move Up in the NW Suburbs. It includes a net-proceeds worksheet, a buy-first vs. sell-first comparison and a timeline from the first call to both closings.

Comment “MOVE UP” and I’ll send it to you.

Let’s run the numbers first.

10/28/2026

Real truck? Most garage doors won't fit it.

I'm 6'4", and in a lot of garages I can reach right up and touch the top of the door. Standard-height doors are a deal breaker for anyone with a full-size or lifted truck.

This garage has the height, and the room behind it for storage, a gym, or whatever else you need.

Comment INFO and I'll send you the full listing, or call/text 515-585-9849 to come see this garage in person.

Two closings, one moving truck. That's what the free Move-Up Seller Guide plans out. Comment MOVEUP for your copy.

10/28/2026

Your first home, with no project list.

Built in 2021 and every upgrade is already done. No paint, no remodel, no waiting on a builder. You get the keys and you move in.

Open house this Sunday at 16507 Walnut Meadows Dr, Urbandale.
Sunday, Nov 1, 1–3 PM.

3 bed / 3.5 bath, Waukee School District. Quartz kitchen with a walk-in pantry. The finished lower level has 9-ft ceilings and a full bath, ready for a home office, gym, or guest room. Radon mitigation, a 30-year waterproofing warranty, a smart thermostat, and a video doorbell are already in.

First-time buyer? Come walk it and ask me anything. No appointment needed.