Well, they usually try to find roomates. You can also try to land a house sitting gig, but they'll want a criminal background check and references.

As for my experiences, I didn't live in any of those places. :D I got family who work construction, so I know all the place to avoid. But I still hear the war stories.

Think the last place I lived in the Des Moines area, in terms of a huge complex, was a place in Ankeny that used to be called Crestmore. These days they call it "The Hood", back in the 70s and 80s though, it was the cats ass. Had a pool, tennis court, garages, neighborhood was upper middle class. Nice strip mall, nice schools(asshole teachers though).

Another place I lived in actual Des Moines, that is still standing and has not been bulldozed is a VERY old building. I think it was 1819 6th Ave, sort of downtown by Arlington and 6th. In the early 80s it was no BS Hood. Still, an amazing old building though, central boiler, radiator heating, reasonable efficiencies, I think it had an actual fallout shelter, WW2 style, the laundry room was a sort of historical relic because they had drying racks off the central boiler building.

These days, the cell phone weenies would freak, because I can imagine that the brick in that building will probably stop ionizing radiation, let alone cell phone radiation. :D Lead paint? Heheh Try lead pipes. Probably uranium fly ash in the concrete, asbestos, mercury switches here and there, you name it, a 100 year old building is gonna be INTERESTING.

I don't think the old biker bar is still to the south, but the convenience store is right next door. There's a nice park to the north, etc, etc. lol! Some loon even did a wiki entry on it. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ayrshire_Apartments

Not sure they even rent those anymore, think some developer was going to gut it out, and do some sort of "Old World Charm" condos.