Des Moines Iowa

Des Moines SkyscrappersThe Des Moines metro area is home to 500,000+ people and is the state capitol Capitol of Iowa. The name Des Moines came from the river named "Le Riviere de Moingona." De Moyen in French means middle. And Des Moines´ beginnings and downtown area are right in the middle of two rivers, the Des Moines River and the Raccoon River. Located between two major Interstates (I-80 East/West and I-35North/South), we enjoy one of the shortest commute times in the country with a 19.3 minutes on average. In addition, we have the Des Moines International Airport (DSM) which is just a 10 minute drive south of downtown.

Our major industries are finance and insurance (some of the largest companies have their home base here in Des Moines), government, trade, manufacturing and service. Our unemployment rate is one of the lowest in the country and our cities leaders encourage both small and large businesses to make Des Moines their home. The latest businesses on the block to build in the Des Moines area are Microsoft and Aviva. We are very excited to welcome relocating employees as well as seeing the new hires from within Des Moines. And just in! Bass Pro Shop will be building on the east side of Des Moines. A shout out to Bass Pro for acknowledging our thriving, abundant economy! I can´t wait to visit!

Our schools are unsurpassed as far as test scores and teacher to student ratios. We pride ourselves in our diversity found within the district. The students and their families, teachers, and staff come from many cultures and experiences that contribute to the richness of our education. Education in Des Moines is about individual student needs. They offer a wide variety of programs. The only public Montessori school is the Downtown School which is a national model. So, whatever education you are looking for for your student, you will find it here in the Des Moines area.

Des Moines housing offers downtown living (hip artsy constructed lofts, elegant high-rise condominiums), near downtown areas showcases Victorian and post-Victorian historic homes and yet another community (Beaverdale) charms you with its eclectic mix of quaint brick homes built from the 1920´s to 1940´s. Price ranges span from $100,000 to $4,000,000. The latest downtown developments and revitalization visions are bringing new energy to downtown and luring many residents back to the area´s commercial center. Senior executives, young professionals, families and people of all ages are discovering that downtown living has a lot to offer. There is truly a home for everyone´s taste, price point, and unique style. And don´t forget, just outside of Des Moines you can live on an acreage with your own horses, goats or lamas! You´ll share the landscape with are abundant wildlife, deer, pheasant, turkeys and hawks!

Roller CoasterLooking for entertainment? Those of us living here enjoy our Iowa State Fair, Farmer´s Markets, Blank Park Zoo, Living History Farms, incredibly delicious restaurants, city aquatic centers, bike trail systems, parks, lakes, boating, fishing, camping, golf both public and private country clubs (along with golf homes), museums, the Des Moines Symphony (yes, we have on and one of the best!), Civic Center (New York Broadway comes to Iowa!), Adventureland (it´s not Disneyland but they have awesome rides, just ask my daughter!). Each city also has their own sports league (soccer, basketball, etc.) so you can get your family involved. It´s a fantastic way to meet other families that soon become friends. There are also plenty of venues to get involved with volunteer opportunities and church communities in which to build your outer circle of family and friends.

See what Forbes Magazine says about Des Moines ranking as "4th Best Place for Business and Careers" for the 2nd year in a row.

www.forbes.com/2008/03/19/best-business-cities-biz-bestplaces08-cx_kb_0319places_land.html

See what the Today Show says about Des Moines being #6 of the 100 Best Places to Raise a Family. May 20, 2008.  www.msnbc.com/id/21134540/vp/24724754#24724754

See what Kiplinger´s Personal Finance says about Des Moines being #9 on Best Places to Live. June 24, 2008.  www.kiplinger.com/features/archives/2008/05/2008-best-cities-des-moines.html

See what the Today Show says about Des Moines as one of the top-5 real estate markets in the country. October 27, 2008.  http://www.iowarealty.com/mag/tv/top5markets.html