This house is much bigger than it looks. The addition on the back increases the master bedroom size & kitchen/dining room. There is a large "loft" area upstairs for office, playroom or bedroom space.
Merle Hay, located between I-235 and I-80/35, is a commercial and residential Des Moines neighborhood with a mall corridor and mid-century subdivisions. The neighborhood’s character concentrates around Merle Hay Road and Douglas Avenue, where big-box storefronts, local eateries, and steady traffic set a pragmatic, on-the-go tone. Ranch houses and split-levels sit on curving streets, with pockets of apartments near the main arterials. Merle Hay Mall remains the defining landmark, shaping the area’s retail-first geography. The Des Moines Buccaneers at Buccaneer Arena add a loud, local sports ritual to the week. Sidewalks and multi-use paths link to nearby green space for a break from the corridor pace.
Provided by Walk Score and Local Logic
Market insights
1209 Merle Hay Rd · $185,000
DAYS ON MARKET
1 days
The average home goes pending in 35 days.
SALE-TO-LIST
98.2%
Most homes are selling 2% below list price.
LIST PRICE
$185,000
Median sale price in this area is $314,350. (70% higher than this home)
PRICE DROP
0 price drops
30% of homes in this area have had a price drop in the past month.
Property details
Interior
Exterior
Finance
Kitchen
Bathroom
Bedroom
Living
Interior features
Separate formal dining room
Unfinished basement
Bedrooms
2 main-level bedrooms
Bathrooms
1 full bathroom
1 half bathroom
Kitchen
Dishwasher, refrigerator, stove
Flooring
Hardwood
Heating & cooling
Forced-air natural gas heating
Central air conditioning
Exterior features
Chain-link fencing
Construction
Asphalt shingle roof
Metal siding
Block foundation
Utilities
Public water
Public sewer
Security
Smoke detectors
Electricity and solar
View estimated energy costs and solar savings for this home
Wow!!! Look at all of this space! Over 1800 sq. ft. You must get inside this home. It doesn't look this big from the outside! There are 2 BR, 1 BA, 2 living spaces and kitchen all on the main level. The upstairs area has 2 bedrooms and a 1/2 bath. The metal siding and new windows make exterior maintenance a breeze on this property. Call for a showing appt. today!
Public Records
Aug 27, 2004
Sold
$118,000
$64/sq ft
Year
Property tax
Land + Additions
Assessment*
2026
$3,986 (+8.2%)
$39,600 + $165,000
$204,600
2025
$3,684 (+2.0%)
$39,600 + $165,000
$204,600
2024
$3,610 (−4.3%)
$34,900 + $148,600
$183,500
2023
$3,774 (+0.8%)
$34,900 + $148,600
$183,500
2022
$3,744 (+4.5%)
$31,500 + $128,600
$160,100
2021
$3,584 (−3.7%)
$31,500 + $128,600
$160,100
2020
$3,722 (+7.9%)
$31,500 + $128,600
$160,100
2019
$3,450 (+1.0%)
$28,000 + $115,600
$143,600
2018
$3,416 (+11.0%)
$28,000 + $115,600
$143,600
2017
$3,078 (+8.5%)
$24,500 + $103,900
$128,400
2016
$2,838 (−2.7%)
$21,300 + $92,500
$113,800
2013
$2,916
$19,600 + $87,200
$106,800
Public record
Public record
Zoning
Permits
Beds
3
Baths
1.5
Stories
1
Lot width
56 ft.
Lot depth
135 ft.
Lot size
7,560 Sq. Ft.
Year renovated
1955
Finished Sq. Ft.
1,831
Unfinished Sq. Ft.
—
Total Sq. Ft.
1,831
Year built
1938
Style
Single Family Residential
County
Polk County
APN
10011954001000
Parking Spaces
—
Basement
—
Accessible
—
HOA Dues
—
Garage
—
Features
—
Last updated by owner on Oct 5, 2026.
RX1
Mixed Use District
RX1 is intended for transitional areas between MX districts and N districts, providing for residential and office buildings at a scale and intensity appropriate for corridors adjacent to low-scale neighborhoods.
Permitted uses
Include but are not limited to:
Bank
General retail
Restaurant
Hospital / medical center
Housing-Single unit
Housing-Multiple units
Housing-Senior
Hotel / motel
Library
Post office
Mar 6, 2026 • Final
Plumbing (residential) - other
Plumbing
Permit history is from public records and may be incomplete or inaccurate. Redfin and its agents make no representations about the property condition or permit status. Buyers should independently verify all information.
Climate risks
1/10 Flood Factor
Minimal risk of a flood reaching the building in the next 30 years
1/10 Fire Factor
Unlikely to be in a wildfire in next 30 years
3/10 Heat Factor
7 days above 103° expected this year, 15 days in 30 years
2/10 Wind Factor
Minor risk of severe winds over next 30 years
2/10 Air Factor
1 unhealthy days expected this year, 1 days in 30 years
Provided by First Street
Historical weather
Des Moines, IA • 50311
Average low and high temperatures (°F)
31
13
39
20
59
34
65
45
75
52
84
64
88
69
84
65
81
59
70
49
50
33
37
21
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Sun exposure
In this area, properties receive around 10.3 hours in
June and 4.1 hours in December, which is comparable to the
U.S. average for solar exposure.
10.3 hrs
4.1 hrs
JuneDecember
Provided by Shadowmap
Redfin Estimate for 1209 Merle Hay Rd
We cannot show automated home-value estimates for this home.
Nearby homes have recently sold between $215,000 and $274,000.
Nearby comparable homes
The Redfin Estimate uses 6 recent nearby sales, priced between $215K to $274K.