Polk County property record for 404 Watson Ave, Des Moines, IA 50313
| Property Type | Single Family Home |
|---|---|
| Details | 2 bd · 2 ba · 1,018 sqft · built 1955 |
| Lot Size | 0.151 acres (6,600 sqft) |
| Owner | Owner Name on File |
| Tax Bill | $2,038 (2024) |
| Flood Zone | Zone X (reduced by levee) |
| APN | 7924-26-378-031 |
| Primary APN | 7924-26-378-031 |
|---|---|
| Alternative APN |
|
| Bedrooms | 2 Beds |
|---|---|
| Full Baths | 2 Baths |
| Total Rooms | 4 Rooms |
| Stories | 1 Story |
| Building Area | 1,018 sqft Living Area |
| Gross Area | 1,388 sqft |
| 1st Floor Area | 1,018 sqft |
| Basement Area | 720 sqft |
| Finished Basement | 350 sqft |
| Year Built | Built 1955 |
|---|---|
| Architectural Style | Ranch |
| Exterior Material | Vinyl |
| Construction Type | Wood Frame |
| Foundation Type | Block |
| Roof Type | Gable/Hip |
| Roof Material | Asphalt |
| Lot Area | 6,600 sqft (0.151 acres) |
| Lot Dimensions | 132 ft deep x 50 ft wide |
| Garage Type | Detached |
| Garage Area | 384 sqft |
| Parking Spaces | 1 Parking Space |
| Deck Area | 98 sqft |
| Cooling System | HVAC |
|---|---|
| Heating System | Forced Air |
| Sewer | Connected |
| Street Address | 404 WATSON AVE |
|---|---|
| City | DES MOINES |
| State | IA |
| Zip | 50313-5054 |
| Property Category | Residential |
| Property Type | Residential > Single Family > Home |
| Legal Description | LOTS 36 & 37 BLK 4 OLD ORCHARD BEACH |
| Legal Range | 24W |
| Legal Township | 79N |
| Legal Section | 26 |
| Legal Subdivision | OLD ORCHARD BEACH |
| Legal Block | 4 |
| Legal Lot Number | 36,37 37 |
| Jurisdiction | POLK IA |
| Township / Civil Division | DES MOINES |
| Census Block Group | 2 |
| Census Block | 2016 |
| Census Tract | 1500 |
The current owner of 404 Watson Ave acquired it in April 2006.
Source: Polk County records, as of October 15, 2025
| Owner of Record | Owner Name on File |
|---|---|
| Mailing Address | 404 WATSON AVE, DES MOINES, IA 50313-5054 |
| Occupancy | Owner Occupied |
Owner names and exact recorded amounts are on file and can be viewed instantly on this page with a free 10-day trial.
| Deed Names | Name on Deed |
|---|---|
| Last Transfer Date | Apr 10, 2006 |
| Transfer Doc | 0000095010 |
| Record Updated | Jun 8, 2026 |
Source: Polk County assessment roll, as of May 1, 2025
| Type | Name |
|---|---|
| State | Iowa |
| County | Polk County |
| Municipality | Des Moines City |
| Unified School District | Des Moines Independent Community School District (PK - 12) |
| Year | Tax Bill | Assessed Value | Assessed Market Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $128,400 Land $16,800 Building $111,600 | $128,400 Land $16,800 Building $111,600 | |
| 2024 | $2,038.00 | ||
| 2023 | $111,700 Land $14,400 Building $97,300 | $111,700 Land $14,400 Building $97,300 | |
| 2020 | $1,910.00 |
Assessed value and assessed market value are set for property tax purposes and are not market price estimates.
FEMA maps place 404 Watson Ave in Zone X, where a levee reduces flood risk, though there have been 20 flood claims nearby since 1998.
Source: FEMA National Flood Hazard Layer, effective August 17, 2025 · OpenFEMA NFIP redacted claims and policies, as of September 2026
| FEMA Flood Zone | Zone X reduced by levee · depends on levee performance |
|---|---|
| Flood Insurance Requirement | Not required lenders may require it |
| Community Rating System | Class 5 (25% premium discount) |
| Nearby Flood Policies | 9 in force |
| Nearby Flood Claims | 20 (1998–2019) |
| Claims Outside the SFHA | 18 of 20 |
| Most Recent Claim | Jun 2019 · river or lake flooding |
| Claims by Event |
|
Values are read at the parcel center point; flood claims are located to the census block group, not this parcel; lenders make the official flood determination.
Wildfire risk around 404 Watson Ave is low, with less than a 0.01% annual chance of wildfire.
Source: USDA Forest Service Wildfire Risk to Communities (2nd edition), as of 2024
| Wildfire Risk | Low lower than 98% of the US · lower than 82% of Iowa |
|---|---|
| Wildfire Likelihood | Under 0.01% annual chance |
| Exposure | None beyond ember reach |
Values cover an area roughly 900 ft across, not the parcel itself; insurers use their own ratings.
Source: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System, as of September 2026
| Water System | DES MOINES WATER WORKS serves 246,055 people · EPA ID IA7727031 |
|---|---|
| Water Source | Purchased surface water from CIWW (DMWW) |
| Last State Inspection | May 2024 |
| Lead | Under 1 ppb (2022–2024) action level 15 ppb |
| Water Quality | Treatment failure resolved · May 2017 |
|---|---|
| Treatment and Procedure | None last 10 years |
| Monitoring and Reporting | None last 3 years |
Results are for the whole water system, not water tested at this address; lead at the tap also depends on the building's own pipes.
Source: FCC Broadband Data Collection, based on 678 locations within half a mile, as of December 31, 2025
| Provider | Max Down / Up (Mbps) |
|---|---|
| Google Fiber Fiber | 8,000 / 8,000 |
| CenturyLink Fiber | 8,000 / 8,000 |
| Metronet Fiber | 5,120 / 5,120 |
| Mediacom Xtream Cable · Fiber in parts of the area | 2,000 / 1,000 |
| Verizon Fixed Wireless | 1,000 / 75 |
| AT&T Fixed Wireless | 100 / 20 |
May also be available: T-Mobile.
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