Des Moines area property taxes? (Urbandale, Pleasant Hill: credit, house, schools)

[EscapeCalifornia]

I found a document (http://www.desmoinesmetro.com/pdfs/freerelo.pdf) on the chamber of commerce's web site that said property tax rates were in the range of $35-40 per $1000 of value depending on the city. Could the property tax on a $200,000 house really be $8000/yr? Is there a large exemption so that taxable value is much less than market value?

[Luke9686]

I know they are higher than a lot of areas, but not as high as you found. My parents house in Pleasant Hill Iowa (Des Moines Suburb) was assessed by the county at around $180,000 and they pay $3300 per year in taxes.

If you go to www.iowarealty.com and do a search for homes in the Des Moines area, click on the details of a specific home and at the bottom of the page they will have the previous years taxes. Urbandale has the cheapest taxes I think, and it is a very nice town.

Coming from Cali you will notice the cost of living is extremely low in comparison. It's not just the housing either. I am from Des Moines and live in San Jose, CA. Most everything is cheaper in Des Moines. Gas is probably around $2.70-.80. Here it was over $3.20 today. Groceries are cheaper in Iowa also. A half gallon of OJ at Safeway is like $4.90, in Iowa its probably like $3.00, if that. Schools are a lot better in IA than in CA.

I know a lot of homes in the Des Moines area are assessed by the county for less than market value.

[EscapeCalifornia]

Thanks. That sounds more reasonable. I pay over $6000/yr on a house assessed at $560k and I couldn't imagine people in Iowa paying nearly as much in taxes as a mortgage. I definitely need to check out Des Moines again. I visited a few times a few years ago and felt comfortable there. Then again, I'm not the typical Californian that looks down on anybody who doesn't live within 20 miles of the ocean. Must be my grandparents' Oklahoma roots in me. I just need to see if I can make a living there.

[calsac]

we have what they call a "roll Back" that is being phrased out. Not sure what the percentage rate is on the rollback is. I will have to look. well my home is assessed for 235100 but for tax reason it figured on 103630. That is roughly $45.66 per thousand here is the figures on my home.

Valuation Date January 1, 2007
Assessed Value Land 41,000
Dwelling 194,100
Farm Building
Total Assessed Value 235,100* Assessed Value is determined by the county assessor.
Tax Information Current Year
Taxable Value Land 18,070
Dwelling 85,560
Less Military Credit
Total Taxable Value 103,630
*Multiply Taxable Value by Levy 45.6584100
Equals Gross Tax $4,731.58
Less Credits: Homestead .00
Elderly/Disabled .00
Ag Land .00
Family Farm .00
Total Net Tax $4,732.00