Des Moines County Registers 13 Active Pre-Foreclosures Over the Past 12 Months, With 92.3% Nearing Auction
Des Moines, Iowa, recorded 13 active pre-foreclosures over the past 12 months, signaling potential distressed inventory for investors. This figure represents 13 affected parcels within the county, with the vast majority already in the late stages of the foreclosure pipeline.
County Overview
Des Moines County, Iowa, currently has 13 active pre-foreclosures, according to BatchData's Active Pre-Foreclosures Report for July 2026. This number indicates the properties that are actively moving through the pre-foreclosure process, from initial notice to nearing auction. The report shows that 13 individual parcels are affected by these filings, suggesting each pre-foreclosure typically corresponds to a unique property. For investors, these active filings represent properties that could become available as distressed assets, such as short sales or real estate owned (REO) properties, in the near future.
Comparing Des Moines County to its state, it ranks #25 out of 94 counties in Iowa for active pre-foreclosures. While not among the top-ranked counties by raw count, its 13 active filings contribute 1.2% of Iowa's total of 1,093 pre-foreclosures. This places Des Moines County as a notable area within the state for monitoring housing distress, especially given its economic profile and relative size. Nationally, the 283,909 active pre-foreclosures observed by BatchData underscore a broader trend that investors nationwide are closely tracking for real estate investing opportunities.
The composition of the pre-foreclosure pipeline in Des Moines County reveals a significant concentration in the later stages. A striking 12 properties, or 92.3% of the county's total active pre-foreclosures, are categorized as Notice of Sale. This stage is the latest in the pre-foreclosure process, indicating that these properties are nearing a potential auction date. The remaining 1 property, representing 7.7% of the total, is at the Notice of Lis Pendens stage, which signals the initiation of a lawsuit to enforce a lien or mortgage. The heavy weighting towards Notice of Sale suggests that many of these properties are on a fast track towards resolution, which could translate into quicker inventory turnover for buyers looking for distressed assets.
Local Market Context
Analyzing the property types involved in Des Moines County's pre-foreclosure activity further illuminates the local market. Residential properties account for 12 of the 13 active pre-foreclosures, making up 92.3% of the total. This dominance is typical for pre-foreclosure activity, as residential housing often forms the largest segment of the real estate market. Specifically, single-family homes lead this category with 11 active filings, representing 84.6% of all pre-foreclosures in the county. Additionally, one duplex property, or 7.7% of the total, is also in the pre-foreclosure pipeline, reflecting distress in smaller multi-family units.
Beyond residential, the presence of one Office property in pre-foreclosure, accounting for 7.7% of the total, points to some distress in the commercial sector as well. This specific property is identified as a Financial Building or Bank, suggesting a unique situation within the commercial market rather than a broad-based commercial downturn. Investors looking for pre-foreclosure data in Des Moines County should note this mix, as it indicates diverse opportunities, from single-family homes to specialized commercial properties. The high proportion of residential properties in the pipeline suggests that everyday homeowners are primarily affected, creating opportunities for small landlords and everyday owners to acquire properties.
The high concentration of Notice of Sale filings in Des Moines County, 12 properties out of 13, is a critical indicator for investors. This late-stage activity suggests that these properties are likely to proceed to auction or become bank-owned (REO) in the near term. This offers a more immediate prospect for investors seeking to acquire properties at potentially favorable prices, compared to earlier-stage pre-foreclosures that might still be resolved by the homeowner. Monitoring these specific filings is crucial for those looking to capitalize on distressed assets in the Des Moines market, providing insights into where and what types of properties might soon become available. BatchData's comprehensive market reports provide critical insight for investors tracking these trends.