Known in the neighborhood as “The River House on Arlington,” this move-in ready property is up for sale within the River Bend Historic District, offering a rare opportunity to purchase a home on the Des Moines River shoreline.
Realtors Tom Vasquez and Abby Hausmann-Virgil are in the unusual circumstance of selling Vasquez’s home. “Sometimes I’m showing it myself and I stop and think, ‘Am I making the right decision?’ because this place is so perfect,” he said.
“It’s very unassuming from the front, and then you get inside and it’s just a big surprise,” Hausmann-Virgil explained, adding the home will certainly appeal to an “artsy, eclectic” buyer who “enjoys the outdoors and wants to entertain.”
The two-bedroom, 1½-bathroom, $315,000 house sits on one-third of an acre that drops down to the river’s edge and provides multiple spaces to enjoy the scenery, soaring eagles, and wildlife, and while away the hours fishing or admiring the waterway.
The site was once home to attorney Ralph Orwig and his family, built as an expansion of a boat house project. Originally a second home for the Des Moines residents, Orwig grew to appreciate the setting as a quiet escape and an ideal space for entertaining guests, inside and out, creating a tradition that has continued to today.
The present single-story home, reminiscent of a “Beaverdale Brick” ranch property, was constructed on the land in 1944 and is set back from the street, a design decision that enhances the already serene atmosphere. The house includes a detached one-car garage and a main level featuring a primary bedroom and bathroom, remodeled by Vasquez from two existing rooms. A home office could easily be converted into a second bedroom, and in an unusual layout choice, this main floor features a kitchenette, with a larger kitchen installed on the lower level.
The downstairs, 576-square-foot level can be accessed from outside and provides convenient walk-out access. Almost like owning two separate homes, Vasquez added that most visitors don’t ever need to see the upper section of the house.
“When a group of people come over, they rarely, unless I’m giving them a tour, go upstairs. Everyone always stays downstairs,” he explained.
Hausmann-Virgil noted that behind the unassuming front façade, the home’s mid-century modern touches and thoughtful upgrades include custom-built white oak cabinets in the kitchen and quartz countertops. “And you have full floor-to-ceiling windows, so you get the views,” she said.
A prime location for nature lovers, kayakers and paddlers, the Realtors also cited the convenience for keen cyclists, providing a starting point for riding northern trails parallel to the river and the proposed Central Place Trail expansions that will connect River Bend to downtown.
Vasquez spoke highly of his peaceful street and during his residency he had yet to encounter any problems in the neighborhood. “There’s never been any issues with anyone,” he said. Almost reluctant to leave, his current work schedule and focus on a new property leave little time to spend on Arlington Avenue.
Although the home is ready to serve as a full-time family residence, the team recognized its potential for creating an Airbnb, an investment property to rent out seasonally, or as a second home for new owners who make regular trips into the metro. “It would be a great place for a wedding,” Vasquez said.
“It’s such a unique property. I’ve just never seen anything like this for sale in Des Moines before,” Hausmann-Virgil said.
Tom Vasquez and Abby Hausmann-Virgil of Tom & Abby Premier Real Estate Professionals listed the home for $315,000. Contact Hausmann-Virgil at 515-509-7276 for more information and a private showing.
Where: 1919 Arlington Ave., Des Moines
Asking price: $315,000
Year built: 1944
Square footage: 1,200 square feet
Lot size: 0.39 acres
Richard Lane is a freelance writer for the Des Moines Register. If you have a home we should feature, reach out to Susan Stapleton at sstapleton@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Escape from the city in a $315,000 River Bend hideaway right on the Des Moines River
Reporting by Richard Lane / Des Moines Register
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
