Thomas Payne, Realtor - Century 21

09/17/2026

If you’ve been dreaming of small town living, but still want an updated house, and all the fun things that fall in Central Iowa has to offer, I found the house for you!

Want more details? Send me a message and I’ll send you all the info!

09/15/2026

First of all, I want you to know that it’s totally okay!

When you buy a house, it should fit your lifestyle, but also leave room in your budget.

If your dream house is out of reach right now, look for your stepping stone house instead.

A stepping stone is “an action or event that helps one make progress toward a specific goal.”

So my advice is to find a house in your budget that checks all of your “must haves,” but maybe not all of your “nice to haves.”

The goal isn’t to sell it in two years and make a fortune. It’s to start building a foundation for your future.

Instead of paying rent (and helping someone else build equity), you’re putting money toward something of your own that can grow in value over time.

So, let’s take the pressure off of your home search.

If you want to talk to me about your home goals, I’m always here to help!

09/11/2026

Seriously… What do you mean?!

09/08/2026

Back to real life after a long weekend has me dreaming about a quiet brunch at Homegrown and a Honey Bee latte. 🐝☕️

Instead, I’m at my computer with a cold cup of coffee that I’ve barely had time to take a sip of. 😂

Anyone else still mentally on long weekend time?

09/04/2026

You probably need to hear this...

You don’t have to be 100% ready to start asking questions about buying a home.

In fact, sometimes the best thing you can do is get curious before you feel ready.

Talk to a lender.
Run the numbers.
Tour a house.
Drive through the neighborhoods.
Ask questions.
Figure out what you’d actually need to do to get from “maybe someday” to “we could actually do this.”

There are plenty of people who spend years assuming they’re not ready…

Only to discover they were actually much closer than they thought.

You don’t need to have the whole plan figured out. You just need to take the next step.

And if you’re not sure what that next step should be, send me a message. I’m happy to help you figure it out. 🏡

09/02/2026

You don’t have to choose!

You can love where you live AND still be excited about what’s next.

You can want a quiet neighborhood AND want to be close to your favorite restaurants, shops and things to do.

You can be proud of how far you’ve come AND still want something more.

And yes, you can save for a down payment AND still enjoy your life along the way.

Buying or selling a home doesn’t have to mean putting everything else on hold. It’s about figuring out what makes sense for your life.

BTW… you can do both!

08/21/2026

Real estate school taught me the fundamentals.

Contracts. Deadlines. Financing. Negotiations. All the things you’re supposed to know to help someone buy or sell a home.

But I didn’t really learn the job until I started working with real people!

Because attached to every transaction - there’s someone’s money on the line. Their timeline. Their stress. Their plans for what comes next.

Experience teaches you the things no textbook can.

When someone needs you to slow down and explain things a little differently, when a simple question is really a sign that they’re unsure, or when the best thing you can do is take a step back and give them a minute to breathe.

The longer I’ve been in this business, the more I’ve realized that knowing the process is only part of it.

The other part is knowing how to guide people through it.

If you’re buying your first home around Des Moines and want someone who will make sure you understand what’s happening every step of the way, send me a message.

07/20/2026

Last night's Ice Cream Social was amazing — and it's always one of my favorite events of the year for a reason. 🍦

Getting to spend an evening with so many familiar faces and connect with our community in person is truly the best part of this job. To everyone who came out — thank you. This one's for you.

Congratulations to our lucky giveaway winners from last night!

🏆 Elizabeth Snyder — Ninja Creami🏆 Armando Matias — Gift Basket from Sean Coen at Main Wealth Management of Raymond James

A huge thank you to our sponsors who made it possible:

🔑 Jared Nicolaisen - Mortgage Advisor — Key Mortgage Group
🏠 Dee Mable — First American Home Warranty
📸 Haley Matias — Pic Your House
💰 Sean Coen — Main Wealth Management of Raymond James

Already looking forward to next year. 🍦

— Thomas Payne Real Estate Team

05/05/2026

Affordable West Des Moines — without the trade-offs. 🏡

Updated kitchen, finished basement, furnace replaced in 2022, exterior paint in 2025. Move-in ready and priced at $299,900 — rare at this price point in WDM.

And ask me about a 1.5% grant at closing through our preferred lender. Real money back in your pocket on day one. 💰

DM me to schedule a showing 👇
📍 5016 Westwood Drive, West Des Moines | 🛏 3 bed | 🛁 2.5 bath | 💰 $299,900

04/29/2026

Big things still ahead for West Des Moines 👀

The city isn’t giving up on redeveloping Valley West Mall—even with some lease buyout challenges. The long-term plan is a full transformation into a mixed-use space with housing, dining, retail, and green space.

It’s going to take time, but exciting to see the vision still moving forward!

A proposal to redevelop the Valley West Mall site in West Des Moines has hit a snag and the mall is no longer under contract with the developer who has been working with the city to convert the 60-acre site into a mixed-use district, the Business Record has learned. ATI Group went under contract for...