{"id":2570,"date":"2025-12-02T13:40:04","date_gmt":"2025-12-02T18:40:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.brickellsold.com\/blog\/historical-midwest-home-with-8-bedrooms-goes-on-the-market-for-500k-but-theres-a-catch\/"},"modified":"2026-04-13T10:15:00","modified_gmt":"2026-04-13T14:15:00","slug":"historical-midwest-home-with-8-bedrooms-goes-on-the-market-for-500k-but-theres-a-catch","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.brickellsold.com\/blog\/historical-midwest-home-with-8-bedrooms-goes-on-the-market-for-500k-but-theres-a-catch\/","title":{"rendered":"Historical Midwest Home With 8 Bedrooms Goes On the Market for $500K\u2014but There\u2019s a Catch: A Unique Opportunity for a Fraternity or Sorority: Mistakes to Avoid"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_81 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title ez-toc-toggle\" style=\"cursor:pointer\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.brickellsold.com\/blog\/historical-midwest-home-with-8-bedrooms-goes-on-the-market-for-500k-but-theres-a-catch\/#A_Unique_Opportunity_for_a_Fraternity_or_Sorority\" >A Unique Opportunity for a Fraternity or Sorority<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.brickellsold.com\/blog\/historical-midwest-home-with-8-bedrooms-goes-on-the-market-for-500k-but-theres-a-catch\/#History_of_the_home\" >History of the home<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.brickellsold.com\/blog\/historical-midwest-home-with-8-bedrooms-goes-on-the-market-for-500k-but-theres-a-catch\/#Highlights_of_the_property\" >Highlights of the property<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.brickellsold.com\/blog\/historical-midwest-home-with-8-bedrooms-goes-on-the-market-for-500k-but-theres-a-catch\/#Under_new_ownership\" >Under new ownership<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.brickellsold.com\/blog\/historical-midwest-home-with-8-bedrooms-goes-on-the-market-for-500k-but-theres-a-catch\/#External_Resources\" >External Resources<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/www.brickellsold.com\/blog\/historical-midwest-home-with-8-bedrooms-goes-on-the-market-for-500k-but-theres-a-catch\/#Historical_Midwest_Home_Practical_Checklist\" >Historical Midwest Home: Practical Checklist<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/www.brickellsold.com\/blog\/historical-midwest-home-with-8-bedrooms-goes-on-the-market-for-500k-but-theres-a-catch\/#FAQ_Historical_Midwest_Home\" >FAQ: Historical Midwest Home<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/www.brickellsold.com\/blog\/historical-midwest-home-with-8-bedrooms-goes-on-the-market-for-500k-but-theres-a-catch\/#What_should_be_planned_first\" >What should be planned first?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"A_Unique_Opportunity_for_a_Fraternity_or_Sorority\"><\/span>A Unique Opportunity for a Fraternity or Sorority<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><\/p>\n<p>Get ready to own a piece of history! A historic Midwest home with 8 bedrooms is now on the market in Des Moines, IA, offering a unique opportunity for a fraternity or sorority.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Historical Midwest Home<\/strong> helps improve planning, consistency, and publishing quality when teams follow a repeatable workflow.<\/p>\n<p>Now someone has the chance to make that cinematic dream a reality, by purchasing the Phi Delta Theta house at Drake University in Des Moines, IA.<\/p>\n<p>The 4,131-square-foot, eight-bedroom property hit the market for $500,000 and features three stories plus a basement.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-history-of-the-home\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"History_of_the_home\"><\/span>History of the home<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>The home was built in 1916 as a private residence for dentist <strong>Elmer Ball<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s a very interesting property, with a lot of history,&#8221; listing agent <strong>Eric Quiner<\/strong>, of Realty ONE Group Impact, tells Realtor.com\u00ae. &#8220;It&#8217;s in a highly sought-after historic district\u00a0called the Drake Neighborhood.&#8221;<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The fraternity house for sale in Des Moines, IA <span class=\"image-credit\">(Realtor.com)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>It was later used as a fraternity house for Phi Delta Theta from 1961 to 2009, when Phi Delta Theta\u2019s Iowa chapter was removed from the Drake campus following an investigation into a hazing ritual. <\/p>\n<p>The chapter returned to campus in 2020 but moved to a different location.<\/p>\n<p>Now, five years later, the fraternity has chosen to put its original house on the market.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-highlights-of-the-property\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Highlights_of_the_property\"><\/span>Highlights of the property<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>According to Quiner, the large property underwent a full-scale renovation totaling roughly $800,000\u2014including mechanical improvements, interior finish upgrades, roof work, exterior work, and flatwork.<\/p>\n<p>Despite the renovations in the past decade, the house retains much of its vintage character and charm.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;The sleeping porch is still around today,&#8221; notes Quiner.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/na.rdcpix.com\/aafd34f0a4aa3d1670b33f524f4bd203w-c3183540025srd_q80.jpg\" alt=\"Photo of sleeping porch\" class=\"wp-image-1097790\" title=\"\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The porch of the fraternity house is original to the property. <span class=\"image-credit\">(Realtor.com)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Quiner says the property was priced aggressively because the fraternity wanted it to go into the right hands.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;They are asking for way less money than they put into the property,&#8221; he explains, &#8220;but they were more interested in it going to a compelling buyer than making a quick buck.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Since it was a fraternity house, &#8220;you can fit four to five beds apiece into each dorm-style bedroom, and sleep 18 to 20 people in total,&#8221; says Quiner. &#8220;The kitchen and bathrooms are massive, too, making the space perfect for big groups.&#8221;<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/na.rdcpix.com\/7ea208f4310632c1d3b1f86ed3d755eaw-c3163175538srd_q80.jpg\" alt=\"Photo of kitcehn\" class=\"wp-image-1097792\" title=\"\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The extra-large kitchen is perfect for big groups. <span class=\"image-credit\">(Realtor.com)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/na.rdcpix.com\/b1ac2b4b1bbfa40ee185cc28181bdc6cw-c569288007srd_q80.jpg\" alt=\"Photo of bathroom\" class=\"wp-image-1097795\" title=\"\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The bathroom features multiple showers and urinals. <span class=\"image-credit\">(Realtor.com)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>With a rear parking lot for over 20 vehicles, the property is zoned for residential or commercial use.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s a direct shot to the university, so you can get to campus very easily\u2014and it has fraternities and sororities all around&nbsp;it.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Quiner notes that this ended up being a drawback for a prospective buyer\u2014a women\u2019s halfway house\u2014who believed the \u201csober environment could be challenging to uphold.\u201d<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-under-new-ownership\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Under_new_ownership\"><\/span>Under new ownership<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Quiner says Phi Delta Theta wanted to sell the property to another fraternity or sorority, but didn&#8217;t believe the demand existed.<\/p>\n<p>But after just two weeks on the market, and hundreds of inquiries from businesses, groups, and families, Quiner says they already have a buyer.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;I can&#8217;t disclose who it is exactly, but I can tell you it&#8217;s an athletic team,&#8221; says Quiner. &#8220;This will be a fantastic group home for them.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>The property, which features three stories plus a basement, has undergone a full-scale renovation totaling roughly $800,000. Despite the renovations, the house retains much of its vintage character and charm.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"External_Resources\"><\/span>External Resources<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/developers.google.com\/search\/docs\/essentials\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Google Search Essentials<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/developer.wordpress.org\/plugins\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">WordPress Plugin Handbook<\/a> are useful references for best practices.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Historical_Midwest_Home_Practical_Checklist\"><\/span>Historical Midwest Home: Practical Checklist<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>Confirm scope and audience<\/li>\n<li>Define the content goal and CTA<\/li>\n<li>Use clear headings and examples<\/li>\n<li>Add supporting internal links<\/li>\n<li>Review before publishing<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Most quality issues come from unclear scope and rushed publishing. A simple checklist improves consistency and readability.<\/p>\n<p>Review your introduction, headings, and conclusion to ensure the article matches search intent and provides practical next steps for the reader.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"FAQ_Historical_Midwest_Home\"><\/span>FAQ: Historical Midwest Home<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_should_be_planned_first\"><\/span>What should be planned first?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Start with the goal, audience, and deliverables so the final content and media support the same outcome.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Need help implementing this workflow?<\/strong> Contact Miami Real Estate Insights &amp; Market Trends to plan a practical content and media process.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Historical Midwest Home With 8 Bedrooms Goes On the Market for $500K\u2014but There\u2019s a Catch: A Unique Opportunity for a Fraternity or Sorority: Mistakes to Avoi&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2571,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"rank_math_title":"7 Proven Historical Midwest Home Mistakes to Avoid","rank_math_description":"A Unique Opportunity for a Fraternity or Sorority Get ready to own a piece of history! 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