Real Estate Investing in Farnhamville, Iowa (50538)

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

Calhoun County • Population: 523 • Data updated: September 2026

☆ Watch this market Free account

Should you buy in 50538 (Farnhamville, IA)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
GREAT FIT
Grade A (86/100)

Strong fundamentals — affordable, appreciating, and stable. A confident pick for primary residence.

📈 For Investors
MIXED
3.0 / 5 (52/100)

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

⚠️ Risks to Know
CLEAN

No major risk flags on the data we track.

• 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 Farnhamville, IA (50538)?

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

Overall investment appeal

3.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

4.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $127,656
Avg Monthly Rent $954
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $51,705
% Renters 24.7%

Market Analysis: 50538 Farnhamville

Investors eyeing 50538 need to respect the fundamentals at play. Home values of $128K come alongside slower price movement and elevated management overhead.

The 50538 ZIP can work — but only with a tight operating hand. Remote landlords and passive investors tend to struggle here more than the underwriting suggests.

In the broader IA picture, 50538 is a reminder that not every low-priced ZIP is a value-add opportunity — some are simply distressed, and the difference matters.

Employment concentration in 50538 leans toward sectors with higher volatility. The demographic consequence is income fluctuation that investors need to factor into their pro forma.

New investors are better served looking at Farnhamville's stable or hybrid ZIPs before stepping into 50538. 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 Farnhamville:

B Good
Buy Confidence Score: 77/100
Affordability
25/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Affordable
Homes cost 2.5× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+9.1%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $954/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
BALANCED
Even conditions for buyers and sellers
Bottom Line: Mixed signals in this market. Research specific properties carefully and be prepared to negotiate.

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$133K$121K$108K$96K$83K$71KFeb 2018May 2022Jul 2026

📊 How Does 50538 Compare?

Metric 50538 Farnhamville Iowa
Home Value $127,656 $129,932 $227,232
5-Year CAGR 6.5% 8.4% 6.0%
Avg Rent $954 $999 -
Cap Rate 5.8% 6.0% -
💡 Why Invest in 50538? 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 →
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 ZIP 50538 (Farnhamville, IA). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

Do you own or manage rentals in ZIP 50538 (Farnhamville, IA)?

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

Investability
Good
Cap Rate
5.8%
Fair
5yr Growth
+6.5%
Strong

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $127,656
Monthly Rent $954
Price-to-Rent 11.2:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 9.0%
Cap Rate 5.8%
5-Year IRR 12.3%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +9.1% ▲
3-Year CAGR +6.2% ▲
5-Year CAGR +6.5% ▲
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: 5.8%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (5.8%). 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
6.3%
Low risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+6.5%
Growing
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 50538

Population: 523

💰 Median Household Income
$51,705
This area
$51,705
State
$71,886
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
24.7%
This area
24.7%
State
19.7%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
0.5%
This area
0.5%
State
0.0%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
8.8%
This area
8.8%
State
18.8%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
40.4 years
This area
40.4 years
State
40.2 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
6.3%
This area
6.3%
State
11.7%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 91.8%
Black/African American 6.4%
Other/Mixed 1.8%
Hispanic/Latino 1.1%
👶 Under 18
27.6%
This area
27.6%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
19.6%
This area
19.6%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
19.5%
This area
19.5%
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 50538

B+ Avg School Grade
1 Schools
13.6:1 Avg Class Size
$16,435 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

B+ Above Average

Southeast Valley Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 04 Elementary
👥
238 Students
👨‍🏫
13.6:1 Class Size
💰
$16,435 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.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Farnhamville, IA rate as a rental market?

Farnhamville, IA registers an investability rating of 3.0/5, with median home values near $128K and average rents around $954/mo. That combination puts it in the resilient tier for investor interest.

How should investors approach Farnhamville, IA?

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

How much do tenants pay in Farnhamville, IA?

Rental rates in Farnhamville, IA average $954/mo. Tenant demand and $128K home values make the yield look reasonable by investor standards.

Can I live-in-and-rent in Farnhamville, IA?

House hacking in Farnhamville, IA is reasonable to execute. Prices around $128K and rents of $954/mo solid owner-occupant economics.

How qualified is the tenant pool in Farnhamville, IA?

Tenant quality in Farnhamville, IA ranks as solid. Landlords generally report reliable occupancy at market rents of $954/mo.

You know 50538 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 50538 compares to every other market. Investor ($19/mo) screens every U.S. ZIP by cap rate, the 1% rule, vacancy and landlord climate, and exports your shortlist.

Compare Plans
🤖

AI Market Advisor

Ask questions about investing in 50538 (Farnhamville)

Loading...

Community Ratings

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

Be the first to rate 50538 (Farnhamville, IA).

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