3125 SCOTT AVE — Polk County parcel 7823.07.101.017
Map of parcel 7823.07.101.017. Center: latitude 41.5833, longitude -93.5548. Use arrow keys to pan and the plus/minus keys to zoom once focused.
Polk County · 2026 tax sale · GovEase lot 1340last year's list
3125 SCOTT AVE
DES MOINES IA 50317
7823.07.101.017 · alt 050.01674.000.000
Redemption likelihoodHigh
Likely to redeem — favors the interest-yield play.
Modeled estimate · not a guarantee
Owed
$188
tax year 2026 · face value
Assessed
$18k
total · land + improvements
Value-to-debt
1 : 98strong
$1 of debt secures $98 of asset
Lot
1.07 ac
46,701 sf · 1403 ft perimeter
Opportunity
Measured scores — use the one that matches your goal.
Redemption yieldrecommended
If the owner redeems, you keep 2%/mo interest (§447.1) — the investment play.
Base7
Vacant / land only+6
Low assessed value (<$25k)+9
Chronic (5+ delinquent years)+6
Total28
Acquire the deed
If the owner never redeems, you can acquire the property — the acquisition play.
Base1
Vacant / land only+1
Low assessed value (<$25k)+1
Total3
Risk flagsRepeat delinquentVacant / land onlyFederal liens not checkedSpecial assessments not checkedAbsentee owner
Flags reflect only what public county data exposes — an absent flag is not a guarantee. Items marked "not checked" need manual verification.
Tax-sale history
9 certificates · Treasurer
Chronicredeemed 9 of 9 resolved · median 21 days to redeem · 9 delinquent years (2005–2019)
Tax year 2019Redeemedcert 2019-423
Sold Jun 17, 2019 for $151 · redeemed Jul 8, 2019 (21 days)
Paid $309 to redeem · $7 interest to the certificate holder
Tax year 2016Redeemedcert 2016-386
Sold Jun 27, 2016 for $142 · redeemed Jul 11, 2017 (379 days)
Paid $197 to redeem · $45 interest to the certificate holder
Tax year 2015Redeemedcert 2015-467
Sold Jun 15, 2015 for $281 · redeemed Jul 6, 2015 (21 days)
Paid $286 to redeem · $12 interest to the certificate holder
Tax year 2014Redeemedcert 2014-454
Sold Jun 16, 2014 for $133 · redeemed Jun 24, 2014 (8 days)
Paid $146 to redeem · $3 interest to the certificate holder
Tax year 2013Redeemedcert 2013-446
Sold Jun 17, 2013 for $259 · redeemed Aug 2, 2013 (46 days)
Paid $271 to redeem · $17 interest to the certificate holder
Tax year 2010Redeemedcert 2010-675-11
Sold Jun 21, 2010 for $112 · redeemed Jul 1, 2010 (10 days)
Paid $23 to redeem · $3 interest to the certificate holder
Tax year 2009Redeemedcert 2009-953-07
Sold Jun 15, 2009 for $216 · redeemed Oct 1, 2009 (108 days)
Paid $46 to redeem · $26 interest to the certificate holder
Tax year 2007Redeemedcert 2007-668-08
Sold Jun 18, 2007 for $208 · redeemed Jun 18, 2008 (366 days)
Paid $108 to redeem · $88 interest to the certificate holder
Tax year 2005Redeemedcert 2005-766-05
Sold Jun 20, 2005 for $640 · redeemed Jul 6, 2005 (16 days)
Paid $34 to redeem · $14 interest to the certificate holder
Who owns it
2 sources agree on identity
Owner names as reported by independent public records — discrepancies may indicate recent transfers or data lag.
Auction list says…
Assessor says…
LEADER, CATHY
Treasurer says…
LEADER, CATHY
Mailing: LEADER, CATHY 6665 NE 12TH AVE PLEASANT HILL IA 50327-8829
Owners of record · Assessor
LEADER, CATHYTitle Holder2004-09-2010738/789
Property details
Assessor
Location
- Address
- 3125 SCOTT AVE
- City
- DES MOINES
- Zip
- 50317
- Jurisdiction
- Des Moines
- District/Parcel
- 050/01674-000-000
- Geoparcel
- 7823-07-101-017
- Status
- Active
- School
- Des Moines
- Nbhd/Pocket
- DM21/Z
- Tax Authority Group
- DEM-C-DEM-770131
- TIF
- 52/DES MOINES SE AGRI BUSINESS PARK UR
- Submarket
- Northeast Des Moines
- Appraiser
- Brett Tierney, 515-286-3019
Land
- Square Feet
- 46,935
- Acres
- 1.077
- Frontage
- 74
- Depth
- 630
- Topography
- Normal
- Shape
- Rectangle
- Vacancy
- Yes
- Unbuildable
- No
Lot dimensions
GIS · centroid 41.5833, -93.5548
Acres: 1.072
Lot sqft: 46,701
Perimeter: 1403 ft
Title & transfer history
2 transfers · Assessor
Recorded deed chain joined to sale prices. Shows ownership only — not mortgages or liens, which the assessor does not publish.
Last market sale
$10,000 · Sep 16, 2003 · to LEADER, CATHY
Sep 20, 2004Warranty deednon-market transfer10738/789
LEADER, CATHY ← RINARD, VIRGINIA L
Sep 16, 2003Land contract$10,00010165/357
LEADER, CATHY ← RINARD, VIRGINIA L
Permits & assessment activity
1 records · Assessor
Permits and assessor field checks recorded against this parcel. “Pickup” rows are assessor reviews rather than building permits.
Year
Work
Status
Applied
2005
Remove · HOUSE (952 sf)(Permit)
Complete
2004-04-20
Zoning
2 records · Assessor
| Zoning | Description | SF | Assessor Zoning |
|---|---|---|---|
| EX | EX Mixed Use District | 44625 | Commercial |
| F | F Flood District | 2309 | Floodway |
Tax assessment history
16 rolls · Assessor
Assessed value set by the Polk Assessor each roll year (Iowa revalues in odd-numbered years). Totals combine land and improvements; change is versus the prior roll. Linked years open the official assessment-roll notice.
Year
Land
Improvements
Total
Property tax
Change
1999
$8,170
$13,330
$21,500
Residential
~$399
+15.3%
1997
$7,090
$11,560
$18,650
Residential
~$346
+11.3%
1995
$6,370
$10,380
$16,750
Residential
~$311
—
Property tax is the actual net tax billed by the Polk Treasurer (before any late interest or fees). Values prefixed "~" are estimated (assessed × Iowa rollback × consolidated levy) for years not yet billed or predating the online record. Use the county's official tax estimator →
If you bid & win
Lien purchase$188
Interest rate2% / mo (≈24% / yr)
SaleJun 2026
Earliest redemption noticeMar 2028
Earliest deed eligibilityJun 2028
Certificate hard capJun 2029
If redeemed at 12 mo$233+$45 interest
If redeemed at its history avg~108 days → Oct 2026 · 4 mo$203+$15 interest
If taken to deed$18k assetat a 100% bid
Iowa bids down the percentage of undivided ownership (§446.16, floor 1%). A contested parcel may convey only a fractional interest, so the deed play is realistic mainly when little or no competition bids it down.
Accrues $4/moschedule
1 year12 mo · $233 total+$45
Redemption notice21 mo · $267 total+$79
Deed eligibility24 mo · $278 total+$90
Hard cap36 mo · $323 total+$135
marks the statutory milestones from the timeline above. Flat 2%/mo on the $188 lien — each partial month counts whole (§447.1). Excludes subsequent taxes and recoverable costs.
Estimates only. Not legal or financial advice.
Data sources
Every fact on this page comes from a public county system. Click to view at source.
Rules & Iowa law
The statutes that govern tax sales, redemption, and deeds.