Rent to own Homes in Ankeny, IA
This fast growing suburb of Des Moines gives you a high quality of life with a minimal commute. At just 22 minutes, the average commute here is shorter than the national average of 28 minutes. The Ankeny business parks are only 10 minutes away from downtown Des Moines and only 20 minutes from Iowa State University.
Ankeny, IA is a great place for affordable rent-to-own homes! With a median household income of over $89,484 and a median rent of $1,108, the Ankeny, IA rent-to-own market is more affordable than the traditional housing market which has shown tremendous growth across the U.S. and with it, aggressive competition for home purchases. With the current housing shortage trend it can make it harder to become a homeowner, including in Ankeny, IA. This means higher than average down payments for homes and higher qualification standards for conventional home loans. With a rent-to-own property, tenants are also buyers. You can live in the house for a set amount of time before you purchase it, meaning that you get to know the house, your neighbors, and your community before making the final purchase. This enables you and your family to make the right choice based on both information and experience. Rent-to-own is also a great alternative way to get into a home if you have bad credit or don't have enough saved for a down payment.
More Ankeny, IA Property Resources
Rent to own Homes in Cities Near Ankeny, IA
- Adel
- Alleman
- Altoona
- Ames
- Ankeny
- Bevington
- Bondurant
- Boone
- Booneville
- Bouton
- Cambridge
- Carlisle
- Clive
- Cumming
- Dallas Center
- Des Moines
- De Soto
- Elkhart
- Granger
- Grimes
- Huxley
- Johnston
- Kelley
- Luther
- Madrid
- Martensdale
- Minburn
- Norwalk
- Patterson
- Perry
- Pleasant Hill
- Polk City
- Prole
- Saylorville
- Sheldahl
- Slater
- Spring Hill
- Urbandale
- Van Meter
- Waukee
- West Des Moines
- Windsor Heights
- Woodward
Buying a Home in Ankeny, IA
Ankeny, IA is seeing rapid growth and Ankeny, IA's' housing market remains not optimal with an average home price that is 10% above the 2025 national average. Ankeny, IA is part of Polk county and taxes are an important factor to consider when purchasing a home whether through rent to own or a traditional purchase. The average tax rate as of 2025 for county Polk is 1.6% which is above the national average, which is 0.99%.
Median Home Price in Ankeny, IA
Median Rent in Ankeny, IA
Top 10 Reasons to Live in Ankeny
The housing prices are pretty close to the national median price, and the $157,000 median price is really affordable for many Ankeny residents. Whether you're looking for a rent to own house or want to buy upfront, you may find your best place in neighborhoods like Boulder Brook or Highpoint North.
Ankeny has a lovely four season climate and the city has developed a system of beautiful parks for you to enjoy the best that nature has to offer. On the west side of the city, you might want to go to Hawkeye Park; on the east side of the city, Heritage Park is more convenient.
There are fewer renters than average here, at only 21% of residents compared to the national rate of about 35%. But you can still find a one bedroom rent to own apartment or even a two bedroom townhome; many apartment complexes are located along highway 69 and NE 94th Avenue.
People in Ankeny like to be active, so there are plenty of facilities for you to enjoy. The Prairie Ridge Sports Complex is a great place for youth soccer or baseball, and Cascade Falls Aquatic Center is perfect for swim practice.
Housing here is much newer than average - about 20 years newer. This means that you should be able to get an updated, nice looking home. Check out popular neighborhoods like The Westwinds or Prairie Trail.
Forget the reputation of the Midwest for being unadventurous about food! Some of the exciting cuisines you can find in Ankeny include Vietnamese fare at Pho K & K, and Thai dishes at Thai Flavors.
There's a very low housing vacancy rate, at only about 4%. That means that you may have some competition when you are looking for your next rent to own home, so you should start looking as early as possible. Consider sought after neighborhoods like Gray's Woods and Douglas Acres.
You don't have to travel into Des Moines to have great shopping opportunities. You'll find all the prime retail stores in the Delaware Shopping District, and you'll appreciate the charming shops in Historic Uptown Ankeny.
Cultural amenities surround you here. The Walnut Street Gallery hosts several important exhibits, and the Ankeny Community Theatre is a great place to watch your most talented neighbors put on a show.
