$30,000 down payment assistant for eligible Polk County homebuyers!

Posted at 3:13 pm on May 2, 2023

🏠 Good news for aspiring homebuyers in Polk County! 🎉 The Polk County Down Payment Assistance program is now available for households earning less than 80% of the area median income. Thanks to a generous $5 million grant from Polk County, eligible homebuyers can receive a $30,000 deferred loan to help with down payment. Administered […]


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Friday Finds with the Sara Hopkins Real Estate Team | Episode 70 The Garden Groomer

Posted at 12:37 pm on

Today’s Friday Finds features another fabulous woman owned business, The Garden Groomer. I cannot express enough how amazing Kayla and her team are. They truly go above and beyond to take care of all your outdoor needs so you don’t have to lift a finger. Trust me, I’ve used their services before and it was a […]


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What’s on the Horizon? Lower Housing Prices or Patient Buyers?

Posted at 12:17 pm on April 20, 2023

We have entered a season of timid buyers and I completely understand the pause. Interest rates rose dramatically at the end of last year which impacted buyers budgets on what you could afford and the urgency of buying anything to take advantage of the low rates has simmered. Now buyers are waiting to see what […]


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5 Secrets No One Tells You About Buying A Home

Posted at 4:01 pm on April 11, 2023

Preparing to buy a home is very exciting! Trust me, I will be your number one fan rooting for you. But there are a few things to keep in mind that most people don’t talk about: 1) What you’re approved for isn’t always what you can afford. There’s more to life than being maxed out […]


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Friday Finds with Sara Hopkins Real Estate Team | Episode 69 Chain & Spoke

Posted at 3:49 pm on

Jeff Hoobin, the visionary owner of Chain and Spoke has brought to life a unique concept in Des Moines, IA – a coffee shop and bike shop all in one! Located in a beautifully renovated space in the trendy Ingersoll district of Des Moines this is a first of it’s kind concept for our city! At […]


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Protesting Your Property Tax Assessment How To

Posted at 11:21 am on March 31, 2023

So, you received your property tax assessment in the mail and you your first thought is “woah, this can’t be right. My house is not worth that much!” The tax assessments that you receive this spring are probably some of the first assessments that are truly reflecting the property value increase of the crazy housing […]


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Friday Finds with Sara Hopkins Real Estate Team | Episode 68 Art Terrarium

Posted at 9:35 am on

Today’s Friday Finds has been a favorite in Des Moines for a while now, but we’re so happy to showcase their new location in Highland Park! Art Terrarium is a must visit destination for rare finds and crowd favorites when it comes to all things plants! From kickstarting your plant-parent journey to sourcing the perfect addition […]


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Friday Finds with Realtor Sara Hopkins | Episode 67 DMPL Library of Things & Tech Central

Posted at 1:35 pm on March 23, 2023

I am a big believer and supporter of the Des Moines Public Library but even I learned something new at today’s Friday Finds. Today’s episode is at the downtown library, showcasing two exciting new programs they offer, Library of Things and Tech Central! Although the library has always been a hub for books and movies, these […]


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What does an increase in assessed value mean for you? (spoiler alert..its not as bad as you think!)

Posted at 2:02 pm on March 6, 2023

You may have seen the billboards around town, taxes are DUE. Each September and March your property taxes are due on your home. If you have a mortgage on your home you likely have already paid into an escrow account to pay this when it’s due. An escrow account is basically a savings account managed […]


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Friday Finds with Realtor Sara Hopkins | Episode 66 Divine Times Vintage

Posted at 3:09 pm on December 5, 2022

Todays Friday Finds is at Divine Times Vintage in Highland Park! Owner Jerrica Yasumura opened this eclectic shop in November and we can’t get over how many amazing finds there are! Find unique vintage pieces, including clothing, home goods and furniture. Multiple vendors sell their hand curated vintage selections and each week features a new guest […]


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Market updates, neighborhood guides, seasonal activities—directly to your inbox!