Moving to Des Moines area- help?

NorthgoneSouth · May 2013

I know this board isn't super active, but maybe one of you ladies can help me out.

We're moving from Austin, TX to the Bondurant/Altoona area (my husband's new job is in Altoona). I know nothing about Iowa, let alone where the best place is to purchase a house in Bondurant or Altoona. Which community is more family-friendly? Which schools are best? What are the areas to avoid buying in? Are there certain areas that flood? Certain things we should know about purchasing a home in the area (like, many homes are prone to foundation problems or mold)?

I have a two year old, a 3 month old, and a large dog... any good parks? Activities? Things to do? Family friendly restaurants?

Please tell me all you know. I'm pretty much trying not to freak out.

Thanks!

missyishere · May 2013

I don't live in Des Moines, but I know people who do. I can ask around and get back to you. GL on your move!

NorthgoneSouth · May 2013

Thank you! I appreciate any information I can get! We're also looking at Ankney since the schools seem better there.

ashleymarie512 · May 2013

Hello there! I live in the Ankeny area, which isn't far from Bondurant at all. A good friend of mine lives there and really likes it. It's definitely smaller than Ankeny/Altoona and would require you to go to either of those places for groceries/Target/etc. It's growing, but still small. Altoona is actually where my husband is from. It's bigger and has pretty much everything you would need, but it's kind of older of a town. There are some new, up and coming areas, but they are a lot pricier too. Altoona also has Adventureland, which is an amusement park and in the summer it is the tourist attraction for the state. It's also next door to a casino. Personally, I really like Ankeny, but would like Bondurant too. If you enjoy the big city feel of Austin, it may feel too "country". The bonus though is that it's right by two relatively larger suburbs.

I feel like I already wrote a book and still didnt answer your questions. Let me know if there's anything else I can help you with!

ashleymarie512 · May 2013

NorthgoneSouth:
Thank you! I appreciate any information I can get!nbsp; We're also looking at Ankney since the schools seem better there.nbsp;

Just read this closer, I think you would like Ankeny. It has good schools and is definitely growing, but still has family friendly activities, parks, and manageable to get around. Between Ankeny, bondurant and Altoona, Ankeny has the best school system by far.

NorthgoneSouth · May 2013

ashleymarie512:
NorthgoneSouth:
Thank you! I appreciate any information I can get!nbsp; We're also looking at Ankney since the schools seem better there.nbsp;
Just read this closer, I think you would like Ankeny. It has good schools and is definitely growing, but still has family friendly activities, parks, and manageable to get around. Between Ankeny, bondurant and Altoona, Ankeny has the best school system by far.

Thank you so much! Everything you told me was helpful- especially since I know nothing except what wikipedia and the realtors tell me. Is there a certain part of Ankney you like best? Any section of the town to avoid buying in? I'm excited to live in a smaller town. I grew up in a suburb and I'm definitely ready for suburban life again.

ashleymarie512 · May 2013

As far as Ankeny goes, there's really no good/bad part of town. There's only newer and older parts, but all are safe...just kinda depends on how much you want to spend on a house. Property taxes are higher, but worth it to us. They are building new schools and updating the existing ones so I think all the schools are pretty decent too.

Sjblanchard1 · May 2013

Ankeny is a great area, I lived in Altoona, and if I had to choose, I would pick Bondurant over Altoona, only because I like the smaller community! Ankeny has a ton to offer, and Bondurant is not far at all from Ankeny.... At most a 5 min drive to Target and the shopping! Bondurant has great schools as does Ankney! If you need a real estate agent, Stephanie Write and Tiffany Dehaan are wonderful! They tend to specialize in the higher end for Iowa Reality, but they would work with you!!!
Good luck!!!

NorthgoneSouth · May 2013

Thank you, everyone! I really appreciate your insight. I can't wait to get up there and start house-hunting!

CML8413 · June 2013

Hi! I live in Des Moines and work in Ankeny, and I will tell you this, that town is BOOMING! It feels like every other day, something else is being built. It has definitely grown and improved over the last 10 years.

Good luck! I've lived in DSM for six years and love it.

punky917 · June 2013

Ankeny is a booming town and it is a nice place to live. I lived there for 2 years. However, I like Altoona better and we are saving up to buy a house there next year. If you build a new house in Altoona/Bondurant there is a five year tax abatement which is awesome! It also has a really good school district which is one of the reasons we are moving there. If you want to look at their website, it is Southeast Polk Community school district. Altoona is smaller than Ankeny and you would probably end up in Ankeny for all your shopping and restaurant ventures, but I don't think that's a big deal since they are right next to each other. Good luck!

+just+j+ · June 2013

Welcome to Des Moines! I am moving back there myself. I am a single mom with a 3 year old daughter. I love Des Moines, it's really developed into a really cool city.

I also am pretty familiar with Austin - so I know the culture.

The good news is almost any area is a fairly easy commute to Ankeny area. Compared to Austin - which I have driven in rush hour enough time - it's not too bad at all.

Here's my rundown of the neighborhoods.

Altoona and Ankeny are nice towns, but very suburban. Good Schools.
Bondurant is a nice little Iowa town. Also decent schools from what I understand. A friend of mine raised two very beautiful, talented, successful girls in that area for most of their childhood - first in Bondurant, and now in Ankeny. She owns a business in Altoona. NO worries of flooding in this area.

Johnston, West Des Moines, Waukee, Urbandale, Clive - all good communities with decent schools. The housing and areas around Jordan Creek mall are booming right now. Very new. Very urban. Little risk if any of flood.

If you don't mind older homes and well established urban communities within Des Moines - I highly recommend Beaverdale. It's a very family friendly, older neighborhood with beautiful brick homes built mostly in the 1920's. I lived there and still miss it. I will probably move back to this area. No risk of flooding.

If you're really hip and into urban living - downtown is booming with condos, lofts and new modern housing. I am considering this myself to be really close to various projects I'll be working on. It's not for everyone - and Iowans with kids or families aren't into raising their family in the heart of the city, but you'd be in the middle of all that's happening. Again - not for everybody - and parts of the downtown that are close to the river are prone to flooding.

I am sorry if I will offend anyone, but I highly suggest you stay away from most parts of the East side of Des Moines, and most parts of the Southside. There are some nice areas in both neighborhoods, but if you're raising a family - I suggest you cautiously look here.

Pleasant Hill however is a nice suburb too and starting to grow a little again. Good school, low risk of flooding. Easy commute to Altoona/Ankeny area.

If you want to stay super close to his work and are okay with Suburbia: Johnston and Ankeny are my two recommendations.

As far as mold - we're very humid in the summer. We have basements. It's always a possibility. It can happen in the nicest of homes. Just make sure you have a reputable person check the house before you buy and tell them your concerns. And if you do have leaks in your basement - get the basement/leak taken care of immediately, and it shouldn't be an issue.

Congrats on your move to Iowa- the Des Moines area is the best city to be moving to from Austin.

If you tell your realtor where you want to live, what arethe most important things on your list, they will steer you in the right direction.

Good luck to you!

elhussey · June 2013

I live in Pleasant Hill, IA near Altoona, IA and have lived in the area for around 13 years. The city of Altoona is an adorable community with a very nice school district, the Southeast Polk School District. My father is a substitute for the school and says the students are the best he has ever seen. Bondurant is a small community, but also have a very good real estate market and just built a brand new high school. It's centered in between Ankeny & Altoona so its a quick drive to both communities. Ankeny is a great community, but it is BOOMING. It is one of the fastest growing school districts across the nation, so if you are looking for a smaller school district Bondurant or Altoona would be the direction to go. Altoona & Ankeny both have nice Walmarts, Targets and restaurants. Ankeny has a brand new grocery store being built (HyVee) that is one of the largest stores the chain has built.

My husband, Nathan Hussey, is a realtor that specializes in those areas. His facebook page is www.Facebook.com/NathanHusseyRealtor, his email is nathan@dsmhomes.com and his phone number is 515-556-9711. If you contact him he can give you more information about great homes in the area of your choice in your price range! He could also show you different homes in the different neighborhoods to see which suburb feels most at home for your family .

Des Moines is an awesome city with a Playhouse/Theater, Zoo, Civic Center, IMAX & Science Center , large farmer's market and more! Your family will love living here! Welcome to Des Moines!

lisam2013 · July 2013

Good luck with your move to the Des Moines area! Everything I've read from others' posts are pretty spot on. I have a cousin that lives in the Bondurant area and really likes it, the school district is smaller than Ankeny. Ankeny is growing like crazy, adding a 2nd high school and some other buildings as well. It depends on how big of a school district you want your children in. My niece and nephew live/go to school in Johnston and that's also a great neighborhood and school district. They have also just passed a bond issue to build a 2nd high school. This would be a little further commute for your husband, however.

I teach in the Urbandale school district and live in the West Des Moines school district, both great, but further away from Altoona (about a 25-30 minute commute). Southeast Polk (Altoona, Runnells, Pleasant Hill) is also a growing school community. It would be worth visiting the school district's websites and maybe even an on site tour before completely deciding.

Although Des Moines proper has some charming housing areas, the schools are spotty. Some are great, others not so much.

The only bad thing about Iowa is winter! Some aren't bad, others seem to last forever!

NorthgoneSouth · July 2013

Wow! You all are awesome! Thank you so much!

We've picked a really nice home in Ankeny and I'm very excited to get moved in!

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