Iowa (IA) housing market
Warm MarketStatewide monthly sale-market indicators for rental investors — not a substitute for local rent comps, taxes, or insurance, but a fast read on price level, pace, and negotiation pressure.
Data period: May 2026
Market snapshot
- Median sale price
- $259K
- Median days on market
- 37 days
- Months of supply
- 2.4
- Active inventory
- 9,236
- Homes sold
- 3,780
- Sale-to-list ratio
- 98.2%
- Listings with price drop
- 30.2%
- Data month
- May 2026
Pair this view with the rental property calculator, DSCR calculator, and cap rate calculator — or browse all calculators.
Rental Investor Snapshot
Labels below come from monthly sale-market indicators only. True cash flow requires local rent, taxes, insurance, vacancy, and expense assumptions — model those in the rental calculator, then sanity-check against sale-speed signals here.
- Market temperature
- Competitive
- Buyer leverage
- High
- Pricing signal vs. U.S. median
- Easier buy-in vs. U.S. median (price only)
- Investor fit (heuristic)
- Buy-in vs. U.S. · Appreciation · Negotiation
Watch-outs
- Elevated price cuts can signal negotiation room — verify condition, rents, and comps street-by-street.
Suggested next step: Run a rental property analysis with your own rent, financing, vacancy, and expense assumptions — then sanity-check against this market's sale-speed and negotiation signals.
Warm Market
The market is active with moderate buyer demand.
Iowa market summary
The Iowa housing market is heating up. As of May 2026, the median home sale price is $259K, up 2.3% year-over-year. Homes are spending a median of 37 days on the market, 9.8% shorter than a year ago.
There are 9,236 homes for sale — 7.7% fewer than last year. With 2.4 months of supply, this is a seller's market. 4,585 new listings were added during this period, down 3.2% year-over-year.
Homes are selling for 98.2% of their list price on average, suggesting room for negotiation. 23.1% of homes sell above their asking price. 30.2% of listings have had a price drop.
Market Opportunity Score
Based on current market conditions
62
Contributing Factors
How This Market Compares
vs. National Median
Investor takeaway
A significant share of sellers are cutting prices, which can signal motivated sellers and potential deals. Prices are 42% below the national median on this sale snapshot — that can mean lower buy-in, but cash flow still depends on local rent, financing, and expenses.
Iowa market trends
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Detailed market metrics
Median list price
$274K
Price per sq ft
$165
Sale-to-list ratio
98.2%
Months of supply
2.4
Sold above list
23.1%
Price drops
30.2%
New listings
4,585
↓ 3.2% YoY
Pending sales
4,231
Iowa housing market FAQs
What is the median home price in Iowa?
For the latest published month, the median sale price in Iowa is $259K. Median means half of homes sold above that price and half below — it is a useful benchmark, not a rule for every listing.
Is Iowa a buyer's or seller's market?
With about 2.4 months of supply, conditions often favor sellers (inventory is relatively tight versus sales pace). Buyers may need to move quickly and keep offers competitive.
How long do homes stay on the market in Iowa?
For the latest published month, the median days on market in Iowa is 37 days — half of homes went pending faster and half slower.
Is Iowa good for rental property investors?
Sale-market stats show how competitive buying is (speed, negotiation, inventory). They do not prove rent performance. Iowa can still work for rentals if the numbers work on a deal-by-deal basis — use local rent comps, financing, vacancy, and expenses in the rental property calculator.
How should investors analyze a rental property in Iowa?
Start with purchase price, financing, rent, vacancy, operating expenses, and capital repairs. Stress-test rates and rent. Will It Flow’s rental property calculator is built to translate those inputs into cash flow, DSCR, cap rate, and cash-on-cash return for Iowa deals.
Metro markets in Iowa
Open a metro for the same investor snapshot and trends, then run a shortlist through the DSCR calculator and cap rate calculator.
Des Moines, IA
$309K median · 36 days on market
Davenport, IA
$190K median · 22 days on market
Cedar Rapids, IA
$229K median · 17 days on market
Iowa City, IA
$335K median · 36 days on market
Waterloo, IA
$235K median · 15 days on market
Ames, IA
$279K median · 20 days on market
Sioux City, IA
$246K median · 22 days on market
Dubuque, IA
$266K median · 35 days on market
Burlington, IA
$150K median · 58 days on market
Mason City, IA
$162K median · 61 days on market
Spirit Lake, IA
$420K median · 57 days on market
Clinton, IA
$155K median · 33 days on market
Muscatine, IA
$220K median · 11 days on market
Fort Madison, IA
$137K median · 73 days on market
Pella, IA
$268K median · 36 days on market
Ottumwa, IA
$137K median · 50 days on market
Marshalltown, IA
$180K median · 30 days on market
Oskaloosa, IA
$184K median · 47 days on market
Carroll, IA
$215K median · 38 days on market
Storm Lake, IA
$165K median · 40 days on market
Fairfield, IA
$187K median · 66 days on market
Spencer, IA
$170K median · 65 days on market
Fort Dodge, IA
$175K median · 14 days on market
More Iowa housing market data
Compare how Iowa fits nationally on the U.S. housing market overview, or browse the top 100 U.S. metro housing markets by sales activity.
New to underwriting? Read how much cash it takes to buy a rental in 2026 — then stress-test assumptions in the calculators above.
Underwrite a Iowa rental with real numbers
Cash flow, Cap Rate, DSCR, and cash-on-cash return — built for speed without skipping rigor.
Housing market data provided by Redfin, a national real estate brokerage. Not financial advice. Always consult a qualified professional before making investment decisions.