Ankeny, IA Real Estate, Homes For Sale, School & Area Information

Ankeny has continually been one of the fastest-growing cities in the nation and offers a bit of everything for everyone and tends to do it all with a bit of excellence along the way. There is plenty to do in Ankeny, including restaurants, nite life, and plenty of shopping

Whether you'd like to take a spin on the drive-in merry go round, or play audio tag under the Discovery Arch, your kids and grandkids will love this little park. It's right by Kirkendall Pulbic Library as well, so you can grab some books and take them with you.

Do you love made-from-scratch, fresh Mexican? Cazador's has been in Ankeny for over 25 years because they only use family recipes that are as authentic as it gets! The atmosphere is so comfortable, it's the place where everybody knows your name. There are great options for kids, the chips and salsa are always gone by the time the entree arrives, and the tortillas are always hot. Right off I35's First Street exit, it's close to everything and everything on the menu is good!

This very popular eatery in Ankeny's Prairie Trail District is always busy because the food and the service are always excellent! You can get breakfast items, and their lunch offerings are so fresh, with only the best ingredients. The handmade, hand-decorated bakery items are truly showstoppers, and as many orders go out for parties and special occasions as are enjoyed in the restaurant. If you come at noon you might have a bit of a wait, but it's worth it!

Just a few short months ago the rain would not stop and mowing grass was almost a daily occurrence. Fast forward and now our state is in a drought situation due to a lack of rain. Because of the extremely hot and dry conditions, residents are being asked to try to reduce their water usage. The biggest percentage of water usage in the summer months is lawn irrigation.

Many cities, especially around the Des Moines metro area, are asking residents to water lawns every other day. Check with your city office to find out what your watering schedule will be. Also, be aware of water usage around your home such as leaky fixtures and washing only full loads of clothes or dishes. Anything you can do to help conserve the cities water reservoir will be greatly appreciated by everyone in your community.

Not only does the City of Ankeny provide a convenient location and amazing quality of life to raise a family but it has also been honored with a prestigious award. The City of Ankeny has received the Best of Iowa Excellence Award. This award recognizes the city for its efforts to support business retention and expansion by the Iowa Economic Development Authority and Iowa's utility organizations. Even with the challenges 2020 faced with the pandemic, Ankeny was found to have a big impact on the local businesses and making sure those businesses had a voice during the significant economic uncertainty. This just shows one more reason Ankeny is an amazing place to set down roots and raise your family.

If you just drive around Ankeny you will see construction projects all around the city. Have you ever wondered what is being built? Now you can find out with a click of the computer mouse. Located on the City of Ankeny website is a link to give you that information. Visit the website and under the resident's tab, there will be a link called What Is Being Built. Once you click on that link there will be a map of our city with all the construction projects in place. Click on the marker you are wondering about and find out what is being constructed.

Rain gardens are a beautiful way to slow down stormwater, which also helps protect our storm drains and waterways. The condensed community living can cause dirty runoff to infiltrate the streams and water sources. This can cause water quality issues and contribute to flooding. Rain gardens will help alleviate this issue and protect our water quality. Many rain gardens have been installed in parks and by residents within The City of Ankeny. Providing water quality benefits and adding beauty to our community are not the only features of installing one of these gardens. They also help sustain flowering plants and grasses native to Iowa, which also provides an amazing habitat for pollinator species.

The City of Ankeny Stormwater Best Management Practices Reimbursement Program can provide partial funding for the installation of a rain garden on private property. If you are interested in installing one of these gardens or just want more information there will be a Rain Garden Training webinar on February 11-12th from 8:00 to 11:30 a.m. on both days. This is a free webinar and will cover design basics, plant selections, long-term maintenance, and cost-share programs. To attend register online through the City of Ankeny, or use the link below to register.

The Ankeny Park and Recreation Department is offering a Valentine cookie decorating class on February 13th. These classes are offered to both kids and adults and will be hosted by The Frosted Apron. Each participant in the class will decorate and take home eight cookies.

Covid modifications will be in place. Please register through The City of Ankeny Park and Recreation Department or use the link below to get more information.

The Ankeny Parks and Recreation Department will be offering youth basketball starting in February. Some modifications have been made to the programs due to the Covid-19 pandemic, which includes wearing face masks and limiting spectators. Little Dunkers (four years old to first grade) need to register by February 1st and kids in grades two-seven register before January 25th. All leagues will play a preset five-game season.

Register online through the City of Ankeny. Contact Ankeny Parks and Rec for more information.

While 2020 was very difficult for many businesses and citizens there was one bright spot. The City of Ankeny saw huge growth and set new records for construction permits. There were 22 permits for commercial buildings and 1,178 residential permits issued last year. The total investment is valued at more than $400 Million. Over the past seven years, total investment due to construction permits has been valued at $2.5 Billion.

The City of Ankeny is an amazing spot to settle and raise a family. The city is a great mix of businesses and all types of owned and rented housing. As Ankney grows the City remains focused on the residents. Current projects include installing the new Kirkendale Park and Playground as well as the brand new Senior Community Center. As a long-time resident of Ankeny, I personally have been able to watch it grow and expand. The thing I love most about our town is having all the conveniences of a larger community but still having a small-town focus and feel. With all the growth happening in Ankeny it is easy to see why our town is named one of the fastest-growing cities in the US.

One of the many services offered in the City of Ankeny is the disposal of unwanted Christmas trees. If you are one of the thousands of people who love the smell of a real tree and now need to dispose of it you're in luck. The City of Ankeny crews will make one pass through all neighborhoods to pick up all trees left at the curb. This process is underway and will continue through January 8, 2021. Don't hesitate to get your tree to the curb right away. Please note trees should be free of all decorations, tree stands, and plastic hauling bags. This is a free service to all Ankeny residents.

Almost everyone looking to sell a home believes the spring market is when you should sell your home. This is not the case, especially in our local Des Moines area.

Months of inventory is the amount of time it would take to sell all active listings if no new listings became available. A normal balanced market should have about five-seven months of inventory active listings. Having more inventory than demand will change this to a buyer's market, meaning the number of active listings provides eight-twelve months of inventory. Currently, in Central Iowa, housing market demand is greater than inventory, a seller's market. This means there are only zero-four months of inventory, and the Des Moines Area inventory is at 2.2 months.

What does this all mean? In many price points, the housing market is extremely competitive, which is especially true in the entry-level price points. If upsizing or downsizing your current home has been in your plan for 2021 you may want to consider selling sooner than later.

It is that time of year again, fall cleanup. With the early arrival of snow in our area, the free leaf disposal site for Ankeny Residents has been extended. The leaf collection site is open 24 hours a day. City crews are available to assist residents from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday only. Only paper yard waste bags will be permitted for dumping. All other containers such as plastic yard bags or other containers must be removed by the resident upon dumping of the leaves. This collection is designated only for leaf disposal. Contact your trash hauler regarding any other yard waste. This free leaf collection program will run until Sunday, November 22, 2020. The leaf drop off site is located in the parking lot of the Prairie Ridge Aquatic Center at 1220 NW Prairie Ridge Dr.

Beggar's Night in Ankeny will proceed as usual on October 30th from 6:00-8:00 p.m. Please use your own discretion if you and your family would like to participate in these activities. If you will be welcoming the local ghouls and goblins to your home please turn on your front door light. Be sure to leave your light off if you will not be handing out goodies.

On any given day the Prairie Ridge Sports Complex is filled with families and kids. Located on NW 18th St between NW State St and NW Ash Ave this is definitely the place to be during the sports seasons. Home to 15 baseball fields, nine soccer fields, six softball fields, and five football fields the complex is maintained by the City of Ankeny and supported by the local athletic organizations. There are walking paths, play equipment, two ponds for fishing, and lots of open space for recreation. This 90-acre complex has parking for 1200 cars and lots can be entered from the north or east side of the complex. If your family has kids in recreational sports activities chances are you will visit this complex often.

Construction on a new senior center is underway and is expected to be completed in late 2021. As the City of Ankeny continues to grow, a focus has been placed on the senior citizens in the community. A much needed senior community center will focus on their needs offering a large community center, classrooms, indoor walking track, pickleball courts, shuffleboards, golf simulator, and health screening areas.

The City of Ankeny and Polk County have collaborated on this new project to build a first-class facility that would not have been possible without the other entity. The new facility will be able to provide seniors a meal and engage them with their peers in lots of different activities.

The new Senior Community Center will be located on NW Ash Street next to the Fire Station Headquarters on First Street.

Drive anywhere in Ankeny and you will see construction projects in various stages. Have you ever wondered what is being built? Now you can satisfy your curiosity and find out what is happening around town. The City of Ankeny has a New Development link on their website that will tell you exactly what is going on. With the click of a link, you can find out where the new Homegoods store will be located as well as Scooter's Coffee or Mister Car Wash. Check this site out. It is a lot of fun to watch our community grow!

The damage from the recent Derecho storm that tore through Iowa in August was extensive. Finally, many homes have had power restored but clean up continues. The City of Ankeny has extended the tree and branch drop off site for Ankeny residents through August 24th. This will allow for residents not wanting to wait for curbside pick up a chance to clear debris from their property. Please keep in mind no yard waste bags will be accepted. Connect with your private trash hauler for the removal of these bags.

Curbside pick up for tree and branch debris began on August 12th. It is expected that this will take four-six weeks to service the entire community of Ankeny. If you want curbside pick up please make sure your tree and branch debris is in the right-of-way area; between sidewalk and curb. Crews will make one pass through each neighborhood so make sure your debris is curbside as soon as possible.

Due to the recent storm, a drop off site for tree and branch drop off has begun. This drop off site is open to Ankeny residents only (proof of residency will be required) and will be open until Saturday, August 15th at 4:00 p.m. The site is located at the Prairie Ridge Aquatic Center parking lot. Expect a wait to enter. With the abundance of downed trees and limbs, this has been a very popular spot. In addition to this, the City of Ankeny will offer curbside pick up as well. This will start on Wednesday, August 12th. Please make sure your debris is at the curb. The City will make one pass through. Be aware this could take four-six weeks to pick up trash for the entire city.

If you are like me, you love a great pizza! I'll be honest, I have a soft spot for Pizza Ranch having worked there through high school, but there are so many additional (and debatably, "better") choices in Ankeny! My husband and I will nine times out of ten choose Leaning Tower of Pizza on SW 3rd. The Pickle Roll Up Up Pizza (as delicious as its appetizer version) and the Bubbie (sauerkraut anyone?) are two of our personal favorites. If you love cheese on cheese on cheese, check out Wig and Pen - the "Flying Tomato" style. Thick, delicious, ooey-gooey goodness! I would be remiss not to mention Fong's in Prairie Trail. Fong's is most notably known for their Crab Rangoon Pizza, but recently we have begun branching out. We have tried the Street Taco Pizza - my new favorite - and found out it's a favorite of many of the staff! Now off the topic of pizza, make sure you try out Fong's Chinese Cheesesticks too. Mmmmmm

Ankeny offers so much for walking paths and trails! My personal favorite is the High Trestle Trail in which the trailhead is at the heart of Ankeny. This trail offers a 25 mile relatively flat and scenic route to the High Trestle Bridge in Woodward, and is great for biking, walking, running, and rollerblading...you name it! I love biking on it or taking my pup, JoJo, for a shorter walk.

Have you ever wondered what construction projects are happening around Ankeny? If so, you can be in the know by attending The City of Ankeny Planning and Zoning meetings. The P&Z board discusses and approves building permits and zoning changes for our city.

These meetings are held at 6:30 p.m. on the first and third Tuesdays of each month. All planning and zoning meetings are open to the public. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, a public in-person meeting is not possible. The Planning and Zoning Commission and City Staff will participate by electronic conferencing.

The general public is welcome to participate by joining the electronic meeting via a computer or another internet device. Instructions on how to join the meeting are below and can be found by clicking on the agenda link. There will be a time for public comments during the meeting. Those comments must be sent via email to bfuglsang@ankenyiowa.gov no later than 5:30 p.m. on the day of the meeting.

On June 29, 2020, the aquatic center in Ankeny finally opened the doors amidst the Covid-19 pandemic. Admission is for Ankeny residents only and for those families who have students enrolled in Ankeny public or private schools. No season passes will be sold. Admission is $4 per session. There are two three hour sessions offered each day for open swim. If you wish to reserve a spot online registration and payment is required. No money will be accepted at the door.

Please note the lazy river will be utilized for water walking only. The tube slides, swirl bowl, and basketball hoop in the lap pool are also closed. Patrons are welcome to bring chairs or lounge chairs but none will be provided. A signed Covid-19 waiver is required before entering the pool. Prairie Ridge Aquatic Center will remain closed for the season.

For more information please contact the Park & Rec Department at the City of Ankeny at
515-965-6400.

Determining the value of your home can often be confusing. If you have ever been involved in the sale of a home you have heard many different terms referring to the value of the property. There are many ways to determine value. Each process has a different meaning and many times the numbers do not correspond with each other.

Below is an explanation to help clarify that verbiage. An understanding of these terms and processes will assist you in making informed intelligent decisions.

Assessed Value - Typically determined by an assessor who works for the county of which the property is located. Numerous factors are evaluated to determine the assessed value; such as size, improvements, location, and condition. The assessed value of the home is used only for determining property taxes. Many times this valuation is very different from the market value or asking price of a home listed for sale.

Market Value - This is what determines the listing price of a home. This number can change often depending on the housing market conditions in your area. Market value is what a buyer would be willing to pay for your home. A Real Estate Professional can assist you in determining this number. Again, they will look at many factors such as condition and location to determine this value. An agent will examine comparable properties for sale, recently sold, and supply/demand to come up with a list price for your home. It is a realtor's goal to price and sell your home for the highest dollar in the shortest amount of time. List price does not determine market value, it only determines how long your home will be on the market. Listing your home for sale at the best market value price is key to a quick profitable sale.

Appraised Value - Appraised value of your home will often fluctuate much less often than market value. Appraised value is used to calculate replacement costs and investment risk. This is determined by a professional appraiser typically on the behalf of a bank or mortgage company. It can also be used for insurance purposes and for figuring net worth and tax losses.

Zestimate - Many buyers today look to the website Zillow to help determine the value of their home. Please be very careful if and when using this number to price your property. Zillow calculates a home value based on the average of sales in your neighborhood. This site does not consider comparable or like properties, condition, amenities, or location. It is simply an average of recent sales reported by the county in which the property is located.