Real Estate Investing in Bayard, Iowa (50029)

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

Guthrie County • Population: 612 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 50029 (Bayard, IA)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (57/100)

Mixed — values have been flat. OK for long-horizon buyers, less attractive if you may need to sell soon.

📈 For Investors
MIXED
3.0 / 5 (57/100)

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: 16.2% 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 Bayard, IA (50029)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

0.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

5.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $116,316
Avg Monthly Rent $900
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $45,469
% Renters 14.1%

Market Analysis: 50029 Bayard

This part of Guthrie County is not an easy win. The 50029 ZIP records softness in key indicators, and the playbook that works in cleaner markets often stalls here.

The 50029 ZIP can work — but only with a tight operating hand. Remote landlords and passive investors tend to struggle here more than the underwriting suggests.

Regionally, 50029 sits on the difficult end of the IA spectrum. The an appealing option for read — for disciplined operators — is that pricing reflects the difficulty.

Demographically, 50029 is a market where tenant selection matters more than unit finishes. Operators who understand that tend to do fine; those who do not tend to learn why the ZIP trades at a discount.

The right play in 50029 usually involves deep tenant screening, aggressive delinquency response, and a conservative capex buffer. Anything less, and the discount can turn into a trap.

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 Bayard:

B Good
Buy Confidence Score: 77/100
Affordability
20/25
Appreciation
25/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
10/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Affordable
Homes cost 2.6× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+10.3%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $900/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)

$119K$114K$109K$104K$99K$94KFeb 2022May 2024Jul 2026

📊 How Does 50029 Compare?

Metric 50029 Bayard Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA Iowa
Home Value $116,316 $116,316 N/A $227,232
5-Year CAGR N/A N/A N/A 6.0%
Avg Rent $900 $900 N/A -
Cap Rate 6.0% 6.0% - -
💡 Why Invest in 50029? Click to expand

With a 3/5 investability rating, this ZIP shows solid fundamentals for buy-and-hold investors.

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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 50029 (Bayard, IA). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
6.0%
Good

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $116,316
Monthly Rent $900
Price-to-Rent 10.8:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 9.3%
Cap Rate 6.0%
5-Year IRR 11.6%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +10.3% ▲
3-Year CAGR +5.6% ▲
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: 6.0%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (6.0%). 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
16.2%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
N/A
Stable
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 50029

Population: 612

💰 Median Household Income
$45,469
This area
$45,469
State
$71,886
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
14.1%
This area
14.1%
State
19.7%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
2.4%
This area
2.4%
State
0.0%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
5.6%
This area
5.6%
State
18.8%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
46.4 years
This area
46.4 years
State
40.2 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
16.2%
This area
16.2%
State
11.7%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 94.2%
Other/Mixed 3.1%
Black/African American 2.7%
Hispanic/Latino 2.2%
👶 Under 18
24.7%
This area
24.7%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
29.6%
This area
29.6%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
15.3%
This area
15.3%
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 are vacancy rates like in Bayard, IA?

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

Is Bayard, IA good for landlords?

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

Is Bayard in IA worth investing in?

With a 3.0/5 investability score, Bayard, IA ranks as a solid market for rental property investors. Median prices of $116K and rents of $900/mo drive the underlying numbers.

Is Bayard, IA a good market for FHA house hackers?

For house hackers, Bayard, IA is a challenging. The $900/mo rent on a unit helps defray the mortgage on a $116K property.

Where do rents currently stand in Bayard, IA?

Bayard, IA rentals go for roughly $900/mo a month. That puts gross yield in solid territory relative to $116K acquisition costs.

You know 50029 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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How 50029 ranks in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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