Real Estate Investing in Bagley, Iowa (50026)

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

Guthrie County • Population: 518 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 50026 (Bagley, IA)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
CAUTION
Grade D (51/100)

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

📈 For Investors
WEAK
2.0 / 5 (38/100)

A cash-flow market — rent-to-price math works from day one, though value growth is modest. Great for income-focused investors.

⚠️ Risks to Know
1 flag
  • High vacancy: 27.6% of homes vacant — above national norms.

• Limited market data — this is a very small market; averages are built from few observations and can swing widely. • Modeled rent — no observed market rent for this ZIP; the figure is estimated from HUD fair-market rent.

What’s happening in Bagley, IA (50026)?

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2.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

0.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

4.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $166,166
Avg Monthly Rent $882
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $69,375
% Renters 18.0%

Market Analysis: 50026 Bagley

Turning to rents, ZIP 50026 has challenges — vacancy pressure, softer price growth, and tenant stability concerns sit alongside the $166K median. It rewards specialists, not generalists.

For an experienced owner, 50026 can be a a viable market for hunting ground — but the discount at $166K reflects genuine risk that outside investors often underestimate.

Statewide comparisons place 50026 among IA's softer markets. That context does not make the ZIP uninvestable, but it does raise the bar for due diligence.

Who lives in 50026 is part of why the ZIP is priced as it is. The demographic profile requires hands-on management, tight screening, and local knowledge.

trends toward the ZIP is not uninvestable, but it is unforgiving. Section 8 landlords, local operators, and specialized value-add funds are the investor types that tend to succeed.

Explore the Data — Click a Tab Below
🏦 Current 30-yr Fixed Mortgage Rate: 6.76% as of Sep 10 Source: Freddie Mac PMMS

Here's what matters if you're considering buying a home in Bagley:

B Good
Buy Confidence Score: 75/100
Affordability
25/25
Appreciation
18/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
10/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Affordable
Homes cost 2.4× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+3.9%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $882/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
COOL
More inventory, negotiating room for buyers
Bottom Line: Mixed signals in this market. Research specific properties carefully and be prepared to negotiate.
❄️
COOL MARKET
Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA Metro Area
More inventory, negotiating room for buyers
62 days
Average time to sell
Slow
11.0%
Listings with price cuts
Few Cuts
0.0%
Sale price vs asking
Below Ask
0.0%
Income needed for mortgage
Affordable
📅 Market conditions as of August 29, 2026 — updated weekly from Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metro data

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$170K$165K$159K$154K$148K$143KFeb 2022May 2024Jul 2026

📊 How Does 50026 Compare?

Metric 50026 Bagley Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA Iowa
Home Value $166,166 $166,166 N/A $227,232
5-Year CAGR N/A N/A N/A 6.0%
Avg Rent $882 $882 N/A -
Cap Rate 4.1% 4.1% - -
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 ZIP 50026 (Bagley, IA). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Fair
Cap Rate
4.1%
Fair

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $166,166
Monthly Rent $882
Price-to-Rent 15.7:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 6.4%
Cap Rate 4.1%
5-Year IRR 8.5%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +3.9% ▲
3-Year CAGR +4.3% ▲
5-Year CAGR N/A
10-Year CAGR N/A

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 4.1%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (4.1%). Financing reduces your cash-on-cash return below the cap rate. Markets like this may still make sense as IRR plays — factoring in appreciation, depreciation, and a future refinance when rates drop.

Run an IRR Analysis →

⚠️ Risk Signals

Composite view of factors that can impact a ZIP's stability and your downside risk.

Vacancy
27.6%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
N/A
Stable
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 50026

Population: 518

💰 Median Household Income
$69,375
This area
$69,375
State
$71,886
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
18.0%
This area
18.0%
State
19.7%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
4.0%
This area
4.0%
State
0.0%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
23.4%
This area
23.4%
State
18.8%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
41.9 years
This area
41.9 years
State
40.2 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
27.6%
This area
27.6%
State
11.7%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 85.4%
Other/Mixed 14.6%
Hispanic/Latino 7.8%
👶 Under 18
29.0%
This area
29.0%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
20.8%
This area
20.8%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
13.6%
This area
13.6%
USA
11.5%

Crime & Safety

🚧

Crime & Safety Data Coming Soon

We're integrating comprehensive crime statistics including violent crime rates, property crime, and safety scores to help you make informed investment decisions.

Expected: Q1 2025

Frequently Asked Questions

What type of investing works in Bagley, IA?

A careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management strategy Bagley, IA best. The market produces steady results for that approach at the $166K price point.

Where do rents currently stand in Bagley, IA?

Investors in Bagley, IA typically see rents near $882/mo per month against $166K home values - a solid setup for rental cash flow.

How qualified is the tenant pool in Bagley, IA?

The tenant pool in Bagley, IA is solid, supported by local employment and population fundamentals. Rents of $882/mo are well-absorbed by the market.

Do landlords face vacancy issues in Bagley, IA?

Rental vacancy in Bagley, IA is elevated. Investors should budget normal turnover but not chronic empty units.

How landlord-friendly is Bagley, IA?

The landlord environment in Bagley, IA is landlord-friendly. Statewide rules shape most day-to-day operations for rental owners.

You know 50026 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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How 50026 ranks in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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