Real Estate Investing in Des Moines County, Iowa

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

8 ZIP codes • Population: 39,315

Should you buy in Des Moines County, IA? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
GOOD FIT
Grade B (74/100)

Solid choice β€” stable market with a reasonable entry point and good rental backup if you ever need to move.

πŸ“ˆ 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
1 flag
  • Elevated vacancy: 8.3% vacancy may signal weakening demand.

What’s happening in Des Moines County, 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

County-wide average

3.0/ 5

Appreciation

4.1% 5yr CAGR

5.0/ 5

Landlord Climate

Regulatory friendliness

Avg Investability β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…
Avg Home Value $205,927
Avg Monthly Rent $952
ZIP Codes 8

Investing in Des Moines County Real Estate

Across Des Moines County's 8 ZIPs, the picture is lackluster β€” soft rents, slow appreciation, and demographic headwinds that don't obviously reverse in the medium term.

A 3.0 rating and a 0.0% 5-year CAGR are the kinds of numbers that warrant real local underwriting. Des Moines County sits firmly in that category.

Des Moines County's population trends and income levels suggest a region where affordability is strained, constraining how aggressively rents can rise without hurting collections.

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

Landlord Ground Truth

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

Do you own or manage rentals in Des Moines County, IA?

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

Avg Home Value
$205,927
Avg Monthly Rent
$952
1% Rule
βœ— Below
Landlord Friendly (IA)
β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…

πŸŽ“ Colleges & Universities in Des Moines County

1 College 2,562 Students 627 Off-Campus Renters
C
Southeastern Community College
2-Year Public Β· 2,562 students
πŸ“ ~627 students rent off-campus

Investor Insight: With 627 students living off-campus, Des Moines County has substantial rental demand from the college population β€” typically stable, lease-renewing tenants.

Cities in Des Moines County

ZIP Codes in Des Moines County, IA

Screen every market in Des Moines County

Filter this county’s ZIPs by cap rate, vacancy, appreciation and 30+ more criteria, and export your shortlist to CSV — with the Investor plan ($19/mo). Add weekly alerts when these markets move with Investor Pro+.

View Plans

Frequently Asked Questions About Des Moines County

Which investment style suits, IA?

A careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management strategy, IA best. The market produces predictable results for that approach at the $206K price point.

Are tenants stable in, IA?

Working renters make up the core of the, IA tenant base. The pool is reasonable for investors targeting long-term holds.

Does, IA favor landlords or tenants?

, IA operates under IA law, which is tenant-protective overall for landlords. Expect steady treatment in typical lease and eviction cases.

Where does, IA sit compared to IA statewide?

Against the IA average, is broadly in line with. The divergence is driven by local fundamentals rather than statewide trends.

Community Ratings

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

Be the first to rate Des Moines County, IA.

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