Real Estate Investing in Havelock, Iowa (50546)

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

Pocahontas County • Population: 364 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 50546 (Havelock, 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: 15.5% 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 Havelock, IA (50546)?

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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 $138,521
Avg Monthly Rent $828
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $57,946
% Renters 20.0%

Market Analysis: 50546 Havelock

In practical terms, ZIP 50546 has challenges — vacancy pressure, softer price growth, and tenant stability concerns sit alongside the $139K median. It rewards specialists, not generalists.

Distressed markets are won on execution, not on spreadsheets. ZIP 50546 registers the profile where tenant screening, deferred maintenance, and local relationships determine the outcome.

Statewide comparisons place 50546 among IA's softer markets. That context does not make the ZIP uninvestable, but it does raise the bar for due diligence.

From a cash-flow lens, 364 residents fill the ZIP, renter turnover runs higher than neighboring postal codes and delinquency risk is a real line item rather than a theoretical one.

Experienced landlords with local relationships tend to find 50546 workable. Turnkey investors from out of state usually find the numbers do not hold up in practice.

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 Havelock:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 60/100
Affordability
25/25
Appreciation
5/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Affordable
Homes cost 2.4× the median income
Value Trend
Declining (-0.4%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $828/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)

$143K$138K$132K$126K$121K$115KFeb 2022May 2024Jul 2026

📊 How Does 50546 Compare?

Metric 50546 Havelock Iowa
Home Value $138,521 $138,521 $227,232
5-Year CAGR N/A N/A 6.0%
Avg Rent $828 $828 -
Cap Rate 4.7% 4.7% -
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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 50546 (Havelock, IA). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Fair
Cap Rate
4.7%
Fair

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $138,521
Monthly Rent $828
Price-to-Rent 13.9:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 7.2%
Cap Rate 4.7%
5-Year IRR 9.3%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year -0.4% ▼
3-Year CAGR +4.7% ▲
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: 4.7%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (4.7%). 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.

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⚠️ Risk Signals

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

Vacancy
15.5%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
N/A
Stable
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 50546

Population: 364

💰 Median Household Income
$57,946
This area
$57,946
State
$71,886
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
20.0%
This area
20.0%
State
19.7%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
1.4%
This area
1.4%
State
0.0%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
13.3%
This area
13.3%
State
18.8%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
50.3 years
This area
50.3 years
State
40.2 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
15.5%
This area
15.5%
State
11.7%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 96.2%
Hispanic/Latino 3.8%
Other/Mixed 3.8%
👶 Under 18
22.1%
This area
22.1%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
19.5%
This area
19.5%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
16.7%
This area
16.7%
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 kind of vacancy should I budget for in Havelock, IA?

Occupancy in Havelock, IA runs stable with elevated vacancy. Well-priced units at $828/mo lease on reasonable timelines.

What is the tenant pool like in Havelock, IA?

The tenant pool in Havelock, IA is solid, supported by local employment and population fundamentals. Rents of $828/mo are well-absorbed by the market.

How strong are rents in Havelock, IA?

Investors in Havelock, IA typically see rents near $828/mo per month against $139K home values - a solid setup for rental cash flow.

What is the average home sale price in Havelock, IA?

Typical homes in Havelock, IA go for around $139K. The 5-year CAGR of 0.0% stable price movement.

Is Havelock, IA a smart market for rental property?

The 2.0/5 investability rating in Havelock, IA reflects its $139K prices and $828/mo rents. Investors generally consider it a solid option within IA.

You know 50546 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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