Buying a home in the Des Moines metro
Buying well matters more than buying fast.
Know what you want. Find it faster. Move with confidence.
First home or next home, I start with what you’re comfortable paying, not just what you’re approved for. Then I walk every house with you the way a tradesman would: the panel, the furnace and the foundation before the granite.
Want to see your payment first? Try our mortgage calculator.
01 / How I help you buy
Four stages. You always know what’s next.
01 / Get clear
Budget comfort, not just approval.
We sort timing, must-haves versus nice-to-haves, and how much risk you’re comfortable with. Skipping this creates pressure later.
02 / Tour for livability
Condition is flexible. Location is permanent.
Layout, flow, noise and the systems you can’t easily change matter more than paint and countertops.
03 / Write a smart offer
Skipping a protection doesn’t make the problem go away. It just means you’re the one who pays for it.
An offer is a bundle of terms, not just a price. I’ll show you how it will be received before you sign it.
04 / Inspect, appraise, close
Most stress happens after acceptance.
Inspections are information, not a pass or fail. Appraisals are lender tools. I keep it calm and on deadline, and I’m still a resource after you move in.
02 / Search homes
Search every home for sale in the metro.
Live MLS listings across Ankeny, Altoona, Bondurant, Johnston, Urbandale, Des Moines and the rest of the metro. Results open in a new tab on my RE/MAX Revolution search site, where you can save a search and get new-listing alerts. Found one you like? Text me and I’ll tell you what the listing doesn’t.
03 / Know your number
What will your payment really be?
Price, down payment, taxes, insurance and PMI in one place, plus what extra payments would save you. Print your scenario, or we’ll email it to you.
Example
$2,461 a month
$300,000 home, 10% down, 6.75%, 30 years
About $106,000 saved
by paying $200 extra each month
7 years 7 months
sooner to a paid-off home
Why I believe in the 15-year mortgage
Pay a little more each month. Keep a lot more of your life.
About $638 more
a month than the 30-year payment
About $200,000
less interest over the life of the loan
15 years sooner
to owning your home outright
If the 15-year payment fits comfortably in your budget, it is one of the most powerful wealth-building decisions you can make: once the house is paid off, that payment is yours to invest, give or save. If it doesn’t fit yet, extra payments on a 30-year loan get you part of the way, and you can always refinance shorter later.
Same $270,000 loan at 6.75% for both. 15-year rates are often lower than 30-year rates, which widens the gap.
04 / Buyer guides
Read ahead, at your own pace.
05 / What buyers say
“[He] shot straight about his concerns, which helped me know he wasn’t just trying to make a sale.”
Alyson I., first-time buyer
“Jason was right there beside us through every single one.”
Elizabeth H., buyer
“He is a man of integrity who will stand by his word.”
Matthew I., buyer
5.0 stars on Google. See what clients are saying.
Des Moines Iowa Property Tours on YouTube
Tour homes with me, every Tuesday.
Full property tours across the Des Moines metro. I show you the panel, the furnace and the grading most tours skip, and tell you what I’d check before writing an offer.
Newest tour · October 27, 2026
What to Look for When Buying an Older Home
1965 Brick Ranch Tour in Newton Iowa
What to look for when buying an older home, through the eyes of a tradesman. In 1965 the head electrician at Maytag drew the plans for this Newton Iowa house, served as his own general contractor, and lived in it for…
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Inside a Frank Lloyd Wright House Iowa Owns
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Des Moines Acreage Tour
House With Woodshop on 2.2 Acres Outside City Limits
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Altoona Iowa Property Tour
New Ranch + the Basement You Can Actually See
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Altoona Iowa Property Tour
New Build, 5 Beds + a Grandfathered Tax Abatement
06 / Common questions
Straight answers for buyers.
Should I waive the inspection to win a house?
Rarely. Skipping the inspection doesn’t make problems go away; it just means you’re the one who pays for them. A shorter inspection window often keeps you protected and competitive. My uncle got his license after waiving one went badly.
What’s the difference between pre-qualified and pre-approved?
Pre-qualified is an estimate. Pre-approved means a lender has reviewed your documents. Sellers take pre-approved buyers more seriously, and you’ll know your real number.
What should I avoid once I’m under contract?
Don’t open new credit, make large purchases, change jobs or move money without asking your lender first. Any of those can delay or derail your loan.
Do you help after closing?
Yes. Questions after move-in are normal, and I’m still a call or text away.
Ready to start?
Begin with the buyer guide.
Read it at your own pace, then a short call when you are ready. No pressure, ever. Call or text 515-606-1227.
The best is yet to come.