Wow! Just last year I was considering Des Moines as a possible place to move to. I have serious doubts about being able to handle temps like that, since I’m SoCal born and raised.
Move sunny Florida,, I live in New Smyrna beach and build new homes in Deltona 30 minutes away. A 4/2 new 2572 sf home on a small lake is only 249k , 45min to disney 45min to beaches.
We love it here, have a look at our weather. 67 n sunny
https://www.mynews13.com/fl/orlando/weather
The only drawback is its very hot July and august. As for me I will take 3 months too hot over 5 months too cold.
Des Moines (most of it) is nice. So is Sioux Falls. if you hate snow and cold then yeah, these are not places to be. But keep in kind that this is really extreme cold. It’s not something we see too often.
Check into Springfield Missouri. I was there last fall and liked it. Fayetteville Arkansas was pretty good too.
Worry about the ice. Des Moines is on the ice line.
That’s the worst in 30 years and it’s only 2 days max!
Spring, summer and fall are beautiful here
My son was driving flatbeds for TMC in Iowa at this time last year. Damn cold. He's returned home to Pocatello, ID where it's a bunch warmer and life as a real estate broker is less stressful than driving flatbeds all over the US.