Polk County property record for 4871 E 38th St, Des Moines, IA 50317
| Property Type | Single Family Home |
|---|---|
| Details | 3 bd · 2 ba · 1,950 sqft · built 1966 |
| Lot Size | 0.585 acres (25,500 sqft) |
| Owner | Individual Name on File |
| Last Sale | $187,000 (Sep 2008) |
| Tax Bill | $4,614 (2024) |
| Flood Zone | Zone X (minimal risk) |
| APN | 060/09474-018-000 |
| Primary APN | 060/09474-018-000 |
|---|---|
| Alternative APNs |
|
| Bedrooms | 3 Beds |
|---|---|
| Full Baths | 2 Baths |
| Total Rooms | 5 Rooms |
| Building Area | 1,950 sqft Living Area |
| Gross Area | 2,650 sqft |
| 1st Floor Area | 1,350 sqft |
| Basement Area | 1,300 sqft |
| Finished Basement | 600 sqft |
| Unfinished Basement | 700 sqft |
| Fireplaces | 1 Fireplace |
| Fireplace | Fireplace |
| Year Built | Built 1966 |
|---|---|
| Effective Year Built | Effective 1966 |
| Architectural Style | Split Level |
| Exterior Material | Brick/Stone |
| Construction Type | Frame |
| Roof Type | Hip |
| Roof Material | Asphalt |
| Lot Area | 25,500 sqft (0.585 acres) |
| Lot Dimensions | 255 ft deep x 100 ft wide |
| Garage Area | 528 sqft |
| Parking Spaces | 2 Parking Spaces |
| Porch | Open Porch |
| Porch Area | 288 sqft |
| Cooling System | Central |
|---|---|
| Heating System | Steam |
| Sewer | Connected |
| Water Source | Commercial |
| Street Address | 4871 E 38TH ST |
|---|---|
| City | DES MOINES |
| State | IA |
| Zip | 50317-8923 |
| Property Category | Residential |
| Property Type | Residential > Single Family > Home |
| Legal Description | LOT 8 SYLVAN HEIGHTS PLAT 2 |
| Legal Subdivision | SYLVAN HEIGHTS PLAT 2 |
| Legal Lot Number | 8 |
| Jurisdiction | POLK IA |
| Township / Civil Division | DELAWARE |
| Census Block Group | 2 |
| Census Block | 2039 |
| Census Tract | 10602 |
4871 E 38th St is owned and occupied by an individual who acquired it in April 2014.
Source: Polk County records, as of July 7, 2026
| Owner of Record | Individual Name on File |
|---|---|
| Mailing Address | 4871 E 38TH ST, DES MOINES, IA 50317-8923 |
| Occupancy | Owner Occupied |
| Owner Type | Individual |
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 Sale | Sep 25, 2008 · Amount on File |
| Deed Sale | Sep 25, 2008 · Amount on File |
| Deed Document Number | 20082009-00020997 |
| Deed Book / Page | 12787 / 415 |
| Last Transfer Date | Apr 4, 2014 |
| Transfer Doc | 0000198904 |
| Record Updated | Sep 20, 2026 |
Source: Polk County assessment roll, as of October 13, 2025
| Type | Name |
|---|---|
| State | Iowa |
| County | Polk County |
| Municipality | Des Moines City |
| Unified School District | Southeast Polk Community School District (PK - 12) |
| Year | Tax Bill | Assessed Value | Assessed Market Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $252,500 Land $33,800 Building $218,700 | $252,500 Land $33,800 Building $218,700 | |
| 2024 | $4,614.00 | ||
| 2023 | $230,400 Land $30,300 Building $200,100 | $230,400 Land $30,300 Building $200,100 | |
| 2020 | $4,470.00 |
Assessed value and assessed market value are set for property tax purposes and are not market price estimates.
FEMA maps place 4871 E 38th St in Zone X, an area of minimal flood risk, within 500 ft of a high-risk flood zone.
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 minimal risk |
|---|---|
| Nearest Special Flood Hazard Area | Zone AE, within 500 ft |
| Flood Insurance Requirement | Not required lenders may require it |
| Nearby Flood Policies | 3 in force |
| Nearby Flood Claims | 1 (2026) |
| Claims Outside the SFHA | 1 of 1 |
| Most Recent Claim | Apr 2026 · rainfall accumulation |
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 4871 E 38th St is low, with a 0.02% annual chance of wildfire.
Source: USDA Forest Service Wildfire Risk to Communities (2nd edition), as of 2024
| Wildfire Risk | Low lower than 80% of the US · above 49% of Iowa |
|---|---|
| Wildfire Likelihood | 0.02% annual chance |
| Exposure | Direct burnable vegetation |
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 15 locations within half a mile, as of December 31, 2025
| Provider | Max Down / Up (Mbps) |
|---|---|
| Mediacom Xtream Cable | 2,000 / 1,000 |
| Verizon Fixed Wireless | 300 / 20 |
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