Free Des Moines, Iowa seller net sheet calculator
Closing costs, transfer taxes and who pays what when selling a home in Des Moines, Iowa (Polk County). The calculator applies the local rates for you.
- Median home value
- $183,700
- Transfer tax on $185,000
- $295
- Seller costs on $185,000
- About $10,022
- Median property tax bill
- $3,445 a year
- County
- Polk County
- Population
- 213,096
Des Moines transfer tax
On a $185,000 sale in Des Moines, transfer taxes come to $295: Real estate transfer tax. By custom the seller pays it.
| Tax | Rate | Paid by | On $185,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Real estate transfer tax | $1.60 per $1,000 ($0.80 per $500) on the amount over $500 | Seller | $295.20 |
| Sale price | Seller pays | Buyer pays | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| $185,000 local median value | $295.20 | $0 | $295.20 |
| $250,000 | $399.20 | $0 | $399.20 |
| $500,000 | $799.20 | $0 | $799.20 |
| $1,000,000 | $1,599.20 | $0 | $1,599.20 |
Example Des Moines seller net sheet
A $185,000 sale, close to Des Moines's median home value of $183,700, with a 5% commission and a $110,000 mortgage payoff. Seller costs come to about $10,022, or 5.4% of the price.
| Line | Seller |
|---|---|
| Sale price | $185,000 |
| First mortgage payoff | −$110,000 |
| Real estate commission (5%) | −$9,250 |
| Real estate transfer tax | −$295.20 |
| Owner's title insurance policy | −$175 |
| Settlement / closing fee | −$250 |
| Release / satisfaction recording | −$12 |
| Wire / courier / payoff processing | −$40 |
| Estimated net before property tax prorations | $64,977.80 |
Who pays what in Des Moines
Des Moines closings follow Polk County customs. In Polk County, the seller customarily pays the owner's title policy. The settlement fee is customarily split between buyer and seller. Closings are usually handled by a title company or attorney.
Property taxes in Des Moines
The median property tax bill for homeowners in Des Moines is $3,445 a year, about 1.88% of the median home value of $183,700 (Census Bureau American Community Survey, 2019-2023). Taxes here are paid in arrears, so at closing the bill is prorated between buyer and seller to the closing date. Fiscal year Jul-Jun paid about 18 months in arrears (halves due Sep 30 and Mar 31 of the following fiscal year); seller credits buyer for all unpaid periods through closing.
Rates verified 2026-09-29. Home value and tax bill: Census Bureau American Community Survey, 2019–2023. A net sheet is an estimate; final figures come from the title company.
Des Moines seller questions
How much is the transfer tax in Des Moines, Iowa?
On a $185,000 sale in Des Moines, transfer taxes come to $295: Real estate transfer tax. By custom the seller pays it.
How much are seller closing costs in Des Moines?
On a $185,000 sale, close to the median home value in Des Moines, with a 5% commission, estimated seller costs are about $10,022 (5.4% of the price). Without commission they are about $772. The loan payoff and property tax proration change the final number.
What county is Des Moines in, and does it matter at closing?
Des Moines is in Polk County, Iowa. County and state rules set the transfer taxes and recording fees, and local custom decides who pays for title and closing. In Polk County, the seller customarily pays the owner's title policy. The settlement fee is customarily split between buyer and seller.
How much are property taxes in Des Moines?
The median property tax bill for homeowners in Des Moines is $3,445 a year, about 1.88% of the median home value of $183,700 (Census Bureau American Community Survey, 2019-2023). Taxes here are paid in arrears, so at closing the bill is prorated between buyer and seller to the closing date. Fiscal year Jul-Jun paid about 18 months in arrears (halves due Sep 30 and Mar 31 of the following fiscal year); seller credits buyer for all unpaid periods through closing.
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