Real Estate Investing in Prole, Iowa (50229)

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

Warren County • Population: 1,204 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 50229 (Prole, IA)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (56/100)

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
  • High vacancy: 13.5% of homes vacant — above national norms.
  • High price-to-rent: Price-to-rent ratio 39.9 — hard to cash-flow at these prices.

• Modeled rent — no observed market rent for this ZIP; the figure is estimated from HUD fair-market rent.

What’s happening in Prole, IA (50229)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

2.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

3.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $503,967
Avg Monthly Rent $1,053
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $112,563
% Renters 2.1%

Market Analysis: 50229 Prole

Investors eyeing 50229 need to respect the fundamentals at play. Home values of $504K come alongside slower price movement and elevated management overhead.

In practical terms, the numbers look inviting — $504K purchase price, 0.0% nominal cap — the work to hit that pro forma in 50229 is substantial and deserves full respect.

Statewide comparisons place 50229 among IA's softer markets. That context does not make the ZIP uninvestable, but it does raise the bar for due diligence.

A healthy renter share of 2% in 50229 is not, on its own, a problem — but paired with below-average income and high mobility, it changes the operating playbook.

New investors are better served looking at Prole's stable or hybrid ZIPs before stepping into 50229. The learning curve here is expensive when the lesson is wrong.

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 Prole:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 65/100
Affordability
15/25
Appreciation
18/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
10/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 4.5× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+4.6%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,053/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)

$530K$454K$378K$302K$227K$151KJan 2009Oct 2017Jul 2026

📊 How Does 50229 Compare?

Metric 50229 Prole Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA Iowa
Home Value $503,967 $503,967 N/A $227,232
5-Year CAGR 4.8% 4.8% N/A 6.0%
Avg Rent $1,053 $1,053 N/A -
Cap Rate 1.6% 1.6% - -
💡 Why Invest in 50229? Click to expand

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

📊 See where this ZIP ranks in our Best-of lists →
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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 50229 (Prole, IA). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
1.6%
Low
5yr Growth
+4.8%
Moderate

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $503,967
Monthly Rent $1,053
Price-to-Rent 39.9:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 2.5%
Cap Rate 1.6%
5-Year IRR 6.4%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +4.6% ▲
3-Year CAGR +4.0% ▲
5-Year CAGR +4.8% ▲
10-Year CAGR +6.1% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 1.6%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (1.6%). 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
13.5%
Moderate risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+4.8%
Stable
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 50229

Population: 1,204

💰 Median Household Income
$112,563
This area
$112,563
State
$71,886
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
2.1%
This area
2.1%
State
19.7%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
1.3%
This area
1.3%
State
0.0%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
27.3%
This area
27.3%
State
18.8%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
38.8 years
This area
38.8 years
State
40.2 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
13.5%
This area
13.5%
State
11.7%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 96.8%
Other/Mixed 2.8%
Hispanic/Latino 0.9%
Asian 0.3%
Black/African American 0.2%
👶 Under 18
27.1%
This area
27.1%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
12.5%
This area
12.5%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
0.9%
This area
0.9%
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

🎓 Schools in 50229

Nearby Schools (2 more)

Schools in adjacent ZIP codes that may serve this area

A Very Good

Martensdale Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 06 School
📍 390 Burlington, Martensdale
👥
316 Students
👨‍🏫
14.3:1 Class Size
💰
$15,431 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Martensdale-St Marys Jr-Sr High School

📚 07 – 12 High School
📍 390 Burlington, Martensdale
👥
239 Students
👨‍🏫
12.8:1 Class Size
💰
$15,431 Per Student
About Repit School Scores

Traditional school ratings rely heavily on standardized test scores, which often reflect family income more than school quality. Repit takes a different approach.

We evaluate schools based on factors that research shows actually impact educational outcomes:

  • Class Size — Smaller classes mean more individual attention
  • School Funding — Resources available for programs, staff, and facilities
  • Community Factors — Neighborhood characteristics that influence student success
  • School Environment — Size, type, and structure

Scores are updated annually using federal education data.

🎓 Nearby Colleges & Universities

3 Nearby
C
Simpson College
1,163 students · 11.2 mi
C
Des Moines University-Osteopathic Medical Center
1,521 students · 11.7 mi
C+
Aveda Institute-Des Moines
179 students · 13.1 mi

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Prole, IA rate as a rental market?

Prole, IA rates 3.0/5 for investability. With median values at $504K and rents near $1,053/mo, the market offers reasonable fundamentals for rental investors.

Where do rents currently stand in Prole, IA?

The typical rental in Prole, IA commands about $1,053/mo monthly. That rent profile reliable cash flow against the $504K purchase basis.

Does Prole, IA favor landlords or tenants?

Rental owners in Prole, IA deal with a landlord-friendly legal framework. Most standard eviction processes run on reasonable timelines.

Does house hacking work in Prole, IA?

House hacking in Prole, IA is reasonable to execute. Prices around $504K and rents of $1,053/mo solid owner-occupant economics.

Is vacancy a concern in Prole, IA?

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

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How 50229 ranks in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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