Real Estate Investing in Decatur, Iowa

Everything the listing leaves out — vacancy, rent trend, cap rate, landlord climate. All free.

1 ZIP codes • Population: 384 • Decatur County

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Should you buy in Decatur, IA? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
CAUTION
Grade D (43/100)

Proceed carefully. Weak appreciation or affordability makes this a harder case for most buyers.

📈 For Investors
WEAK
2.0 / 5 (33/100)

Structural challenges here. The numbers may look cheap but operational risk is high. Only for experienced, hands-on investors.

⚠️ Risks to Know
3 flags
  • High vacancy: 37.3% of homes vacant — above national norms.
  • Flat appreciation: Values have barely moved over 5 years (0.0% CAGR).
  • Elevated poverty: 30.3% poverty rate — can affect rent collection.

What’s happening in Decatur, IA?

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2.0/ 5

Investability

Citywide average

0.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

5.0/ 5

Landlord Climate

Regulatory friendliness

🏦 30-yr Fixed Rate: 6.76% as of Sep 10 Source: Freddie Mac PMMS
Avg Investability
Avg Home Value $182,888
Avg Monthly Rent $936
ZIP Codes 1

Investing in Decatur Real Estate

This is a distressed-leaning corner of Iowa: Decatur has 1 ZIPs and a sizable population, and the investment math only works for investors who truly understand the market.

Decatur is the kind of market where the cap rate on paper and the cap rate realized tend to diverge. firmly out-of-state investors should be especially careful with the assumptions they carry in.

Rents in Decatur at $936/mo have struggled to keep pace with cost increases, and vacancy has risen in pockets — a dynamic that compresses realized returns well below headline cap rates.

Population dynamics in Decatur haven't been supportive. a stretch for combined with muted income growth, the demographic backdrop complicates any purely financial underwriting.

A great house in the wrong ZIP is still a bad deal — screen every market by cash flow & cap rate.
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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in Decatur, IA. Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Avg Home Value
$182,888
Avg Monthly Rent
$936
1% Rule
✗ Below
Landlord Friendly (IA)

ZIP Codes in Decatur, IA

Screen every ZIP in Decatur

Filter Decatur’s ZIPs by cap rate, vacancy, appreciation and 30+ more criteria, and export your shortlist to CSV — with the Investor plan ($19/mo).

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Frequently Asked Questions About Decatur, IA

How much is rent in Decatur, IA?

Rents in Decatur, IA run near $936/mo. Compared with median home prices of $183K that produces solid gross yields for typical rentals.

Can I live-in-and-rent in Decatur, IA?

House hacking in Decatur, IA is a challenging. With home values around $183K and rents at $936/mo, owner-occupants can offset a meaningful share of PITI.

Is Decatur, IA a smart market for rental property?

The 2.0/5 investability rating in Decatur, IA reflects its $183K prices and $936/mo rents. Investors generally consider it a solid option within IA.

What are vacancy rates like in Decatur, IA?

Decatur, IA sees elevated vacancy, which is reasonable relative to the broader IA rental market.

Where do home prices stand in Decatur, IA?

Decatur, IA home values average about $183K. That price point suits investors targeting rentals with $936/mo in monthly income.

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