| Date | December 15, 2026, 11:00 am (America/Chicago) |
|---|---|
| Tracts | 1 of 2 |
| Type | Live with online bidding |
| Tract Status | Active |
| Auction Location | Earlham Community Center, 150 East First Street, Earlham, IA 50072 |
Tract 2 of 2
Description
Tract 2 – 20.2± Acres – Jewell Dr., Earlham, Iowa | Dallas County | Buyer’s Choice Auction
Tucked back from the road less than 3/4 mile east of the Earlham exit on I-80, Tract 2 is 20.2± acres of timber and open ground that gives custom home builders and acreage buyers a private setting in Iowa’s fastest-growing county. It is being offered as part of a 60.58± acre, two-tract Buyer’s Choice auction with Seller Confirmation, so it can be bought on its own or together with the adjoining 40.38± acre Tract 1.
Tract 2 includes 12± acres of mature hardwood timber, with the rest in open ground and mature tree plantings left from years as part of the Timberpine Nursery. The open ground gives builders clear homesite locations, and the hardwoods around it provide the privacy, wildlife, and natural setting that buyers of high-end custom homes look for. Settings like this are hard to recreate on open ground. The tract is accessed by a road along the east line of Tract 1 that runs back from Jewell Dr.
The land is currently zoned A-1 and A-2 by Dallas County, with potential to rezone to R-3 Multiple Residential. That leaves several options. Tract 2 can be split into two 10± acre wooded homesites, kept as one private estate parcel, or developed as residential under rezoning. Xenia Rural Water, electricity, and fiber optic are all available along Jewell Dr., which cuts the time and cost of getting homesites ready. Fiber is a strong selling point for today’s buyers, many of whom work from home and expect metro-level connectivity on acreage. The ground has enough natural topography for good water shed and drainage.
Location drives demand here. The I-80 interchange is minutes away, West Des Moines is about 20 minutes away, and downtown Des Moines is roughly half an hour. Buyers can reach the metro’s jobs, shopping, dining, and healthcare and still come home to timber and quiet. The I-80 corridor also gives easy access to Des Moines International Airport and to the rest of the state. As growth in the metro keeps pushing west along I-80, wooded acreage this close to an interstate exit with utilities nearby is getting harder to find.
The surrounding market backs this up. Dallas County has been Iowa’s fastest-growing county for more than a decade. Its population grew more than 50% between 2010 and 2020 and now tops 115,000 residents. The county also has the highest median household income in the state, more than $100,000, and a younger-than-average population. That combination creates steady demand for custom homes and acreage lots.
Earlham is a small town of about 1,400 residents with a historic downtown and a strong sense of community. It offers the quieter pace of small-town Iowa without a long commute. The area is served by the Earlham Community School District, which keeps its elementary, middle, and high school on one campus in town. Earlham schools rank among the stronger districts in Iowa, with test scores above state averages, small class sizes, and a high school that has been climbing steadily in the statewide rankings. Families choosing where to build put a lot of weight on schools like these.
In the Buyer’s Choice format, the high bidder may take Tract 1, Tract 2, or both. The bidding then repeats until all the land is sold. A buyer can bid on Tract 2 alone for a private homesite or a two-lot project, or combine it with Tract 1 for one 60.58± acre development. All final bids are subject to Seller Confirmation.
Terms of Sale
BUYERS PREMIUM: No buyer’s premiums or internet fees
TAXES: Prorated to date of close
TENANCY: Open tenancy for 2027
RENTS: N/A
MINERALS: Seller-owned rights will convey
CLOSING COSTS: Seller is responsible for abstract, deed package preparation, revenue stamp tax, real estate commission, and half of the closing fee. Buyer is responsible for the title opinion, transfer document recording, and half of the closing fee.
CLOSING DATE: On or before 45 days from seller acceptance
DOWN PAYMENT: 10%
POSSESSION DATE: At closing
SURVEY: Seller will pay for any required survey between the auction and closing date
SELLER: Maurice & Lisa Mitchell
SALE ORDER: By the acre
SALE METHOD: Sells Subject to Seller Acceptance
Licensing
Ranch & Farm Auctions is a licensed trade name of Whitetail Properties Real Estate LLC
Richard F Baugh, Iowa Broker License # B57515100
Joe Gizdic, Director, Ranch & Farm Auctions, 217.299.0332
Garret Armstrong, Iowa Land Specialist for Whitetail Properties Real Estate, LLC, 641.757.9156
Cody Lowderman, IA Auctioneer, B64012000
