Good places to live in Des Moines

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GoldenGustie

GoldenGustie

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To all the CPMS students out there, what are the good places to live in Des Moines. I'm thinking about moving down there this coming March, but would like to do some homework on the apartment situation in the city and surrounding area. Leave some feedback, it would be much appreciated 🙂
 
What is your situation. Family or single, do you have a car? West des moines is a nice place to live.
 
Anywhere honestly. DMU is pretty accessible from anywhere you live. I have friends that live in West Des Moines, Ankeny, Downtown, out by the Airport. I personally live right downtown now, but next year my girlfriend and I are buying a condo out in Ankeny.
 
My family and I have lived in West Des Moines and absolutely love it. You are really close to a lot things like Jordan Creek Towne Center, movie theaters, grocery stores, etc.
 
I hated West Des Moines, they all drive like idiots. I live in Polk City which is just west of Ankeny. The good and bad is you don't have to deal w/ the WDM mad house but I have to drive to Ankeny for groceries (10 minutes). I wouldn't live anywhere else now b/c it is quiet and I have a huge lake and a PGA golf course w/in 1/2 mile (opposite directions).

I would look North of DM for a place to live. It is a shorter drive and just as nice as WDM. Plus you find a lot less 17 y/o girls who drive a new Honda and chat on the phone while sipping a mocha and driving w/ their knees while their friends pump the new Fergi song.
 
Everybody loves honking in Des Moines whats with that
 
Dr_Feelgood said:
I hated West Des Moines, they all drive like idiots. I live in Polk City which is just west of Ankeny. The good and bad is you don't have to deal w/ the WDM mad house but I have to drive to Ankeny for groceries (10 minutes). I wouldn't live anywhere else now b/c it is quiet and I have a huge lake and a PGA golf course w/in 1/2 mile (opposite directions).

I would look North of DM for a place to live. It is a shorter drive and just as nice as WDM. Plus you find a lot less 17 y/o girls who drive a new Honda and chat on the phone while sipping a mocha and driving w/ their knees while their friends pump the new Fergi song.
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Thanks for the pointers Feelgood, I would rather not have to deal with the crazy high schoolers:laugh: Has the construction that is going on north of the city affected the commute any or is it still pretty short? Also, does DMU give a list of fellow classmates to contact about possible roommates? Thanks for the help.
 
GoldenGustie said:
To all the CPMS students out there, what are the good places to live in Des Moines. I'm thinking about moving down there this coming March, but would like to do some homework on the apartment situation in the city and surrounding area. Leave some feedback, it would be much appreciated 🙂
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Most students live in the apartments within walking distance form the school, but I chose to buy a house about three miles from the school. It has worked out great for me since as long as I sell it for at least what I purchased it for I will essentially live rent free for four years. If you are not planning on buying there is a house about two blocks from the school that has about 5-6 podiatry students living there. Every year when the third year students leave to go out on rotations there are a couple of rooms that open up. They are a good group of guys and living with guys who have been through the first year has it's advantages. PM me if you want the contact info, otherwise there are a lot of apartments within a reasonable distance.
 
gustydoc said:
Most students live in the apartments within walking distance form the school, but I chose to buy a house about three miles from the school. It has worked out great for me since as long as I sell it for at least what I purchased it for I will essentially live rent free for four years. If you are not planning on buying there is a house about two blocks from the school that has about 5-6 podiatry students living there. Every year when the third year students leave to go out on rotations there are a couple of rooms that open up. They are a good group of guys and living with guys who have been through the first year has it's advantages. PM me if you want the contact info, otherwise there are a lot of apartments within a reasonable distance.
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How did you go about purchasing a house with no income during school, basically, why would a bank give a student a home loan? Thanks
 
In order to apply for a home loan you need to produce proof of your income over the last year and disclose how much savings and other assets you have. I had managed to save a few thousand dollars since I took a year off after undergrad and I worked during that time. If you have not been working, you can always try to find a co-signer for you loan too. I did use my savings as a down payment on my home because it lowered my monthly payment, but many places will give you a loan with no money down. If you are seriously thinking about buying I would suggest contacting a Realtor in Des Moines and asking them what you need to do. I just picked a number out of the yellow pages and they were happy to show me lots of homes within a few miles of the school and hospitals. Then they put me in touch with someone at Wells Fargo who walked me through the loan process. The whole process can be kind of intimidating, but if things go as planned I will be able to pay my first year of school off when I sell the house or at the very least sell the home for what I bought it for and have lived rent free for four years. I am headed out for rotations soon so any of you future DMUer's who might be interested in buying a four bedroom 1.5 bath starting in June feel free to contact me. 😀
 
bdaddyjolley said:
How did you go about purchasing a house with no income during school, basically, why would a bank give a student a home loan? Thanks
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Another thing to remember is that homes are a lot cheaper in DM than Cali. And if a student was interested and did not have the same situation as Gusty, they could get a co-signer.
 
Do any of you live in Maple Grove Villas? If not what have you heard about it? Any recommendations on good apartments. At the interview they gave us a list of apartments that students have lived in, but some of them i couldn't find any info on. In addition I would rather hear it from an actual person instead of a list. Thanks!
 
Medico dos pes said:
Do any of you live in Maple Grove Villas? If not what have you heard about it? Any recommendations on good apartments. At the interview they gave us a list of apartments that students have lived in, but some of them i couldn't find any info on. In addition I would rather hear it from an actual person instead of a list. Thanks!
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Maple Grove aka little Utah :laugh: Some of Ilizarob's buddies live out there. Hook him up Iliza!
 
jonwill said:
Maple Grove aka little Utah :laugh: Some of Ilizarob's buddies live out there. Hook him up Iliza!
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Some of the DMU students affectionately refer to it as the Mormon compound. :laugh: Not me though I have been informed that I am an honorary LDS.
 
I know that a ton of first year students live in Maple Grove. A number of my second year classmates live out there as well. As far as I know they have all been fairly satisfied with Maple Grove.
 
Thank you all for your input. I really appreciate it.
 
Medico dos pes said:
Do any of you live in Maple Grove Villas? If not what have you heard about it? Any recommendations on good apartments. At the interview they gave us a list of apartments that students have lived in, but some of them i couldn't find any info on. In addition I would rather hear it from an actual person instead of a list. Thanks!
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I lived in Maple Grove and would be happy to answer any ???s you have.
 
As we were talking about length of time to the school from West Des Moines it should be noted that if you live in Maple Grove it will be a longer drive than many other parts of West Des Moines. I live around 50th street and am basing my time to school on that. If you live in Maple Grove you can add another 10 minutes or so to your commute.
 
Dr_Feelgood said:
I hated West Des Moines, they all drive like idiots. I live in Polk City which is just west of Ankeny. The good and bad is you don't have to deal w/ the WDM mad house but I have to drive to Ankeny for groceries (10 minutes). I wouldn't live anywhere else now b/c it is quiet and I have a huge lake and a PGA golf course w/in 1/2 mile (opposite directions).

I would look North of DM for a place to live. It is a shorter drive and just as nice as WDM. Plus you find a lot less 17 y/o girls who drive a new Honda and chat on the phone while sipping a mocha and driving w/ their knees while their friends pump the new Fergi song.
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You must be talking about the Valley High School area?
 
Jordan Creek is a teenager magnet.
 
You said it right, the wife could get a little mad but it's a 'teenager magnet' I know you're probably like me, you don't want to mess with those 12 year olds that is WAY too young, but you start getting to 15-16 yea, that's right where you want to be.

In all seriousness though as others have mentioned I'm sure. For the wife, West Des Moines will be more convenient for her as that's more the shopping hub and is growing quite fast. You can find many new condos there. Downtown Des Moines has a certain appeal to it and they are also having a lot of reconstruction but that is more just offices. Third option is right by school so if you need to stop home for something or maybe to see the wife/kids depending on the situation you could.

I would say either A) by school for convenience for you or B) Win the wife over and find a place in West Des Moines. You could just factor the driving in as a study break.
 
Ok skimming through the posts I might as well add a few more things for GoldenGustie (sp?)

West Des Moines, you can find MANY places to live. The cheapest places about 5ish miles from school would be weston park or timberland pointe. Most students are close to school with many at 3000 Grand (as I am), Windsor Terrace, Imperial, and just about anything that starts with Grand. All have advantages and disadvantages, some cost more or less, free internet or no, free heat etc. Some come with free odd odors and about anything else. I think anyone coming should make a trip down and take a day or two touring the different options and then maybe talking to various students if they could as to get a general feel for the different living options
 
I'm getting an apartment close most likely. WHich is better value, Grand 3000 or Imperial?
 
I am just being an SDN slut today but yea.....

I would say imperial hands down is a better value, but some people complain about the odor on certain levels and the walls are a bit thinner but not sure so you would probably want to check on that one. 3000 grand has the pool, a pool table, even an indoor driving range (a room with a net hung up in it), and little fitness area. Seems like the walls are a bit thicker here than the other places I've been in but it is pretty expensive by Des Moines standards for a single. Any questions about 3000 grand, PM me
 
Yeah the Imperial looks like it would be good. I'm from South Texas, so you don't want me driving in the winter.
Still, has anybody stayed in one of their studio rooms? Only 370 SF, maybe a little tight.
 
I still say Ankeny is the best suburb to live in. Just as much growth, shopping, opportunities as WDM and it is like a real city. Speed limits that are over 35 mph on major streets, streets that are wide enough to allow a bus and a car to drive on a 4 lane road, good city planning.
 
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