The Maloney Report

Southeast South Dakota Real Estate Articles

Market context, community comparisons, pricing strategy, and the real questions clients ask before they move, buy, sell, or invest in South Dakota.

Illustration of a curving residential street of single-story homes with fall trees and green lawns beside a golf course on an overcast day

Tax Guide

Disabled Veteran Buying in South Dakota? Time the Exemption

South Dakota exempts $200,000 of a qualifying disabled veteran's owner-occupied home from property tax. For a newcomer, the timing matters, because the application date and the property tax calendar both run on November 1.

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Illustration of an aerial view of newer, mostly single-story homes on wide lots along curving streets, with grassy hills and a river beyond

Tax Guide

Building a New Home in South Dakota? Find the 2% Excise Tax

South Dakota has a 2% contractor's excise tax on construction. If you are moving here and plan to build, or to buy a home finished in the last few years, it helps to know where that tax sits in the price.

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Illustration of a newer residential street with two-story homes, young trees and wide sidewalks at sunset

Tax Guide

Will the Tax on That Newer South Dakota Property Go Up?

South Dakota lets counties, and in some cases cities, phase in the taxable value of certain new structures and developer lots. If the property you want is partway through that schedule, the tax bill you see now may not be the one you pay in a few years.

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Illustration of a residential street lined with two-story homes, green lawns, sidewalks and utility poles under a gray sky

Housing Decisions

No Basement in a South Dakota Home? Plan Your Shelter

A South Dakota home without a basement does not have to end your search. It does mean you need to know where you would go in a tornado warning, and how you would hear the warning, before you commit.

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Aerial view of a residential street with single-family homes, fenced backyards and small sheds set close to neighboring houses

Housing Decisions

Backyard Chickens in Sioux Falls? Check the Lot First

Sioux Falls lets you keep a small flock in town, but the coop has to fit the lot and anything past six birds needs your new neighbors to sign off. Check both before you fall for the backyard.

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Two-story gray house with a covered porch after a light snow, with a cleared driveway and a partly cleared sidewalk

Housing Decisions

Sidewalk Snow and Snow Alert Parking: What Sioux Falls and Vermillion Expect

In Sioux Falls and Vermillion, the sidewalk in front of your house is your job after a snowfall, on a clock. Street parking also changes when the plows come out, which matters if your new home leans on the curb.

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Residential street lined with single-story homes, mature trees, sidewalks and overhead utility wires

Housing Decisions

Trash and Recycling Near Vermillion: What Should Buyers Check?

A recycling program and a landfill listing do not tell you everything included at a property. Check the actual collection arrangement, accepted materials and separate disposal needs before you commit.

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Generated aerial illustration of a town with tree-lined streets, low buildings, a river and bridges.

Move Planning

How Should You Compare Interstate Movers for a South Dakota Move?

A low moving estimate can leave the important questions unanswered. Compare who will carry the shipment, what each written offer includes and how delivery fits possession of the home.

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Residential street at sunset with houses, attached garages, parked vehicles, sidewalks and streetlights.

Move Planning

Can Public EV Charging Fit Your South Dakota Home Search?

A nearby charger earns a place in your home comparison only when your vehicle can use it and the charging stop fits the way you drive.

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Residential street with older houses, mature trees, overhead wires and a roadside mailbox beside the sidewalk.

Move Planning

Where Will You Collect Mail at a South Dakota Home?

The trip from your front door to your mail belongs in the home comparison. Confirm the exact delivery point and test the retrieval routine before relying on the setup you see.

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Bedroom with a wooden bed, neutral walls, hardwood flooring and two windows.

Housing Decisions

What Should Buyers Compare Before Buying a South Dakota Home With a Wood-Burning Stove?

An installed wood-burning stove adds a separate equipment, chimney, maintenance and insurance decision to a South Dakota home purchase. Compare the documents and professional findings against how you intend to use it.

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Empty carpeted room with neutral walls, a large window overlooking houses and an adjoining hallway.

Buying Process

How Should South Dakota Buyers Compare Fixed-Rate and Adjustable-Rate Mortgages?

Compare matching written fixed-rate and adjustable-rate offers by their initial payments, reset dates, rate limits and later payments. Keep a longer-stay scenario in view before choosing.

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