Real Estate Investing in Fertile, Iowa

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

1 ZIP codes • Population: 424 • Worth County

☆ Watch this market Free account

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

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (62/100)

Mixed signals — some positives, some negatives. Worth considering but not a slam-dunk.

📈 For Investors
MIXED
3.0 / 5 (47/100)

A middle-of-the-road market. Workable, but the best opportunities may be nearby ZIPs rather than this one.

⚠️ Risks to Know
2 flags
  • Elevated vacancy: 9.8% vacancy may signal weakening demand.
  • Lower household income: $39,375 median — tenant affordability is tighter.

What’s happening in Fertile, IA?

Click any question — our AI will research it live from the web and show you sources.

✨ Live AI + Web Search
Want to ask your own questions? Upgrade to Pro for unlimited custom queries.
3.0/ 5

Investability

Citywide average

3.0/ 5

Appreciation

5.9% 5yr CAGR

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 $180,562
Avg Monthly Rent $918
ZIP Codes 1

Investing in Fertile Real Estate

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

Investors considering Fertile, IA should understand what the ★★★☆☆ rating represents — a market with material structural headwinds, not a temporary rough patch.

The $918/mo / $181K relationship in Fertile looks thin once vacancy and capex are incorporated into underwriting. seems to the realized yield tends to disappoint.

Demographics in Fertile show real pressure — median income of $N/AK is underwhelming relative to rents, and the 0% renter share includes significant cost-burdened households.

A great house in the wrong ZIP is still a bad deal — screen every market by cash flow & cap rate.
Open the Market Finder →
Free to search · investor plans from $19/mo

Best ZIP codes in Mason City, IA

Fertile is part of this metro. Every ZIP in it, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →

Landlord Ground Truth

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

Do you own or manage rentals in Fertile, IA?

~25 seconds · no account needed · your report is anonymous

Avg Home Value
$180,562
Avg Monthly Rent
$918
1% Rule
✗ Below
Landlord Friendly (IA)

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on Mason City, IA metro

2/10
Low Risk
Price YoY
0/3
N/A
Rent YoY
0/2
N/A
Below List
2/3
66%
Days Pending
0/2
0 days

View all metro crash risk rankings →

☀️ Warm Market — Mason City, IA metro
0
Days to pending
7.6%
Listings with price cuts
0.0%
Sale-to-list ratio
📅 Data as of August 29, 2026 — updated weekly

ZIP Codes in Fertile, IA

Screen every ZIP in Fertile

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

View Plans

Frequently Asked Questions About Fertile, IA

How much is rent in Fertile, IA?

Rents in Fertile, IA run near $918/mo. Compared with median home prices of $181K that produces solid gross yields for typical rentals.

Are there empty rentals in Fertile, IA?

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

Should investors consider Fertile, IA?

The 3.0/5 investability rating in Fertile, IA reflects its $181K prices and $918/mo rents. Investors generally consider it a solid option within IA.

Does house hacking make sense in Fertile, IA?

House hacking in Fertile, IA is reasonable to execute. Prices around $181K and rents of $918/mo solid owner-occupant economics.

How do experienced investors play Fertile, IA?

The best-fit strategy in Fertile, IA is careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management. That approach the rent and price profile of the market.

Community Ratings

What people who’ve spent time here actually say. Not paid reviews.

Be the first to rate Fertile, IA.

It takes 30 seconds. No signup. Your rating helps everyone who comes here after you.