Polk County property record for 4951 E 38th St, Des Moines, IA 50317
| Property Type | Single Family Home |
|---|---|
| Details | 3 bd · 1.5 ba · 1,858 sqft · built 1953 |
| Lot Size | 1.3 acres (56,849 sqft) |
| Owner | 2 Individual Names on File |
| Last Sale | $252,000 (Aug 2024) |
| Tax Bill | $3,906 (2024) |
| Deeds & Mortgages | Aug 2024 Sale & Mortgage Nov 2020 Sale & Mortgage |
| Flood Zone | Zone X (minimal risk) |
| APN | 060/09474-012-000 |
| Primary APN | 060/09474-012-000 |
|---|---|
| Alternative APNs |
|
| Bedrooms | 3 Beds |
|---|---|
| Full Baths | 1.5 Baths |
| Half Baths | 1 Half Bath |
| Total Rooms | 5 Rooms |
| Stories | 1 Story |
| Building Area | 1,858 sqft Living Area |
| Gross Area | 2,211 sqft |
| 1st Floor Area | 1,858 sqft |
| Basement Area | 353 sqft |
| Fireplaces | 1 Fireplace |
| Fireplace | Fireplace |
| Year Built | Built 1953 |
|---|---|
| Effective Year Built | Effective 1966 |
| Architectural Style | Ranch |
| Exterior Material | Brick/Stone |
| Construction Type | Frame |
| Roof Type | Gable |
| Roof Material | Asphalt |
| Lot Area | 56,849 sqft (1.3 acres) |
| Lot Dimensions | 267 ft deep x 212 ft wide |
| Patio Area | 448 sqft |
| Shed | 1 Shed |
| Shed Area | 48 sqft |
| Cooling System | Central |
|---|---|
| Heating System | Forced Air with A/C |
| Heating Fuel | Gas |
| Sewer | Connected |
| Water Source | Commercial |
| Street Address | 4951 E 38TH ST |
|---|---|
| City | DES MOINES |
| State | IA |
| Zip | 50317-8924 |
| Property Category | Residential |
| Property Type | Residential > Single Family > Home |
| Legal Description | LOT 2 & 3 SYLVAN HEIGHTS PLAT 2 |
| Legal Subdivision | SYLVAN HEIGHTS PLAT 2 |
| Legal Lot Number | 2,3 |
| Jurisdiction | POLK IA |
| Township / Civil Division | DELAWARE |
| Census Block Group | 2 |
| Census Block | 2039 |
| Census Tract | 10602 |
4951 E 38th St is owned and occupied by two individuals who bought it in August 2024.
Source: Polk County records, as of November 11, 2025
| Owner of Record | 2 Individual Names on File |
|---|---|
| Mailing Address | 4951 E 38TH ST, DES MOINES, IA 50317-8924 |
| Occupancy | Owner Occupied |
| Owner Type | Individual |
| Vesting | Joint Tenants |
Owner names and exact recorded amounts are on file and can be viewed instantly on this page with a free 10-day trial.
| Date | Document |
|---|---|
| Aug 6, 2024 | Warranty Deed, Transfer · Conventional Mortgage HOMESERVICES LENDING LLC |
| Nov 17, 2020 | Warranty Deed, Transfer · Conventional Mortgage FINANCE OF AMERICA MORTGAGE LLC |
| Deed Names | 2 Names on Deed |
|---|---|
| Last Sale | Aug 6, 2024 · Amount on File |
| Deed Sale | Aug 6, 2024 · Amount on File |
| Prior Sale | Nov 17, 2020 · Amount on File |
| Deed Document Number | 202439768 |
| Deed Book / Page | 19875 / 435 |
| Prior Transfer Date | Jul 30, 2024 |
| Prior Transfer Doc | 0000039768 |
| Record Updated | Oct 29, 2026 |
| Document Type | Warranty Deed |
|---|---|
| Jurisdiction | POLK IA |
| Recording Date | Aug 6, 2024 |
| Property Address | 4951 E 38TH ST, DES MOINES, IA 50317-8924 |
| Document Number | 0000039768 |
| Book / Page | 19875 / 435 |
| Instrument Date | Jul 30, 2024 |
| Instrument | 2024-00039768 |
| Transaction Type | Transfer |
| Record Updated | Oct 20, 2025 |
| Amount | Amount on Record |
|---|---|
| Downpayment | Downpayment on Record |
| Loan-to-Value (LTV) | LTV on Record |
| Tax | $402.40 |
| Amount Accuracy | Rounded by County |
| Name | Verified Name |
|---|
| Name | Verified Name |
|---|---|
| Relationship | Joint Tenants with Right of Survivorship |
| Address | 4951 E 38TH ST, DES MOINES, IA 50317-8924 |
| Document Number | 0000039769 |
|---|---|
| Date | Aug 6, 2024 |
| Instrument | 2024-00039769 |
| Name | HOMESERVICES LENDING LLC |
|---|---|
| Type | Mortgage Company |
| Type | Conventional Mortgage |
|---|---|
| Amount | Amount on Record |
| Term | 241 Months |
| Due | Sep 1, 2044 |
| Document Type | Warranty Deed |
|---|---|
| Jurisdiction | POLK IA |
| Recording Date | Nov 17, 2020 |
| Property Address | 4951 E 38TH ST, DES MOINES, IA 50317-8924 |
| Document Number | 0000056569 |
| Book / Page | 18196 / 828 |
| Instrument Date | Nov 13, 2020 |
| Instrument | 2020-00056569 |
| Transaction Type | Transfer |
| Record Updated | Aug 9, 2022 |
| Amount | Amount on Record |
|---|---|
| Downpayment | Downpayment on Record |
| Loan-to-Value (LTV) | LTV on Record |
| Tax | $242.40 |
| Amount Accuracy | Rounded by County |
| Name | Verified Name |
|---|
| Name | Verified Name |
|---|---|
| Address | 4951 E 38TH ST, DES MOINES, IA 50317-8924 |
| Document Number | 0000056571 |
|---|---|
| Date | Nov 17, 2020 |
| Instrument | 2020-00056571 |
| Name | FINANCE OF AMERICA MORTGAGE LLC |
|---|---|
| Type | Mortgage Company |
| Type | Conventional Mortgage |
|---|---|
| Amount | Amount on Record |
| Term | 361 Months |
| Due | Dec 1, 2050 |
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 | $214,100 Land $44,300 Building $169,800 | $214,100 Land $44,300 Building $169,800 | |
| 2024 | $3,906.00 | ||
| 2023 | $195,000 Land $39,800 Building $155,200 | $195,000 Land $39,800 Building $155,200 | |
| 2020 | $3,638.00 |
Assessed value and assessed market value are set for property tax purposes and are not market price estimates.
FEMA maps place 4951 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 4951 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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