Origin Homes, a homebuilder based out of West Des Moines, is breaking ground on five additional homes in Knoxville's Veterans District this week. 

"Knoxville has truly shown what the future of rural Iowa can look like," said Matt Daniels, Director of Operations for Origin. "We're proud to continue to take the feedback from the community and bring more attainable homes to this community. Knoxville's poised for great growth thanks to the local businesses expanding in the area and the enthusiastic community leaders in place."

Home prices are slated to start in the $290's up to $350's and are expected to be completed in mid-summer 2026. The homes will be both 1.5-story and ranches, with a mixture of finished and unfinished basements and a slab-on-grade (no basement) concept, ranging from 1,400 to 2,200 square feet.

"Thanks to immense support and creativity, the entire first phase of Veterans District sold out in less than three years. Marion County and Knoxville invested over $17 million in the Veterans District, and its partnerships like this that demonstrate how much reward a risk like that can have," said Knoxville Mayor Brian Hatch. "Origin has helped end our shortage of housing lots and has drawn other builders to our area - proving that building in rural Iowa can be done with collaboration and creativity."

"What an incredible milestone for Knoxville. This area has transformed into a vibrant hub of new homes and energy.  We’re proud to have played a role in its growth. Watching it fill with families, activity, and momentum has been nothing short of inspiring in such a short amount of time," said the Sundance Realty Team in a Facebook post.

If interested buyers reserve a home in the early stages of construction, Origin can customize interior and exterior finishes, siding colors and more areas of the home. View all for sale homes HERE.

In early 2026, Origin is also building five homes in Panora's Dream Acres as part of this years' ongoing Rural Housing Initiative aimed at building homes in rural communities across Iowa to improve the housing market. Origin has previously built and sold ten (10) homes in two phases in Knoxville, as well as 18 additional homes in Conrad, Jefferson, Manning and Gowrie.

As part of the initiative, Workforce housing tax credits, awarded from the Iowa Economic Development Authority, will be used to help offset the costs of the homes to homebuyers.