Real Estate Investing in Early, Iowa (50535)

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

Sac County • Population: 1,035 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 50535 (Early, IA)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (62/100)

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

📈 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
CLEAN

No major risk flags on the data we track.

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

What’s happening in Early, IA (50535)?

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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 $153,841
Avg Monthly Rent $828
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $85,060
% Renters 23.1%

Market Analysis: 50535 Early

This part of Sac County is not an easy win. The 50535 ZIP stands at softness in key indicators, and the playbook that works in cleaner markets often stalls here.

Rent of $828/mo on a $154K basis reads well until vacancy, delinquency, and capex enter the model. The honest cap rate in 50535 sits below the stated 0.0% once reality is priced in.

Within IA, ZIP 50535 trails on several market indicators that neighboring Sac County submarkets outperform. The gap is real and notable enough to shape underwriting.

The demographic picture in 50535 includes headwinds that any investor should price in. Income distribution skews lower than Early averages, and tenant stability requires active management.

New investors are better served looking at Early's stable or hybrid ZIPs before stepping into 50535. 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 Early:

B+ Great
Buy Confidence Score: 80/100
Affordability
25/25
Appreciation
25/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Affordable
Homes cost 1.8× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+10.6%)
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: This area shows favorable conditions for homebuyers. Solid fundamentals with reasonable affordability.

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$157K$149K$141K$133K$125K$117KFeb 2022May 2024Jul 2026

📊 How Does 50535 Compare?

Metric 50535 Early Iowa
Home Value $153,841 $153,841 $227,232
5-Year CAGR N/A N/A 6.0%
Avg Rent $828 $828 -
Cap Rate 4.2% 4.2% -
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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 50535 (Early, IA). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Fair
Cap Rate
4.2%
Fair

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $153,841
Monthly Rent $828
Price-to-Rent 15.5:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 6.5%
Cap Rate 4.2%
5-Year IRR 10.5%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +10.6% ▲
3-Year CAGR +6.3% ▲
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: 4.2%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (4.2%). 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
6.2%
Low risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
N/A
Stable
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 50535

Population: 1,035

💰 Median Household Income
$85,060
This area
$85,060
State
$71,886
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
23.1%
This area
23.1%
State
19.7%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
5.9%
This area
5.9%
State
0.0%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
19.3%
This area
19.3%
State
18.8%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
47.2 years
This area
47.2 years
State
40.2 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
6.2%
This area
6.2%
State
11.7%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 94.3%
Hispanic/Latino 3.7%
Other/Mixed 3.7%
Black/African American 1.9%
👶 Under 18
21.4%
This area
21.4%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
21.3%
This area
21.3%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
4.0%
This area
4.0%
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 50535

B+ Avg School Grade
1 Schools
14.9:1 Avg Class Size
$16,507 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

B+ Above Average
👥
141 Students
👨‍🏫
14.9:1 Class Size
💰
$16,507 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

1 Nearby
C
Buena Vista University
1,951 students · 13.4 mi

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a house cost in Early, IA?

In Early, IA the median home value sits at $154K. Against the broader IA market, that reads as reasonable for most investors.

What is the tenant pool like in Early, IA?

Expect a solid tenant pool in Early, IA. The rental market absorbs $828/mo rents without meaningful friction.

Does Early, IA favor landlords or tenants?

Early, IA operates under IA law, which is landlord-friendly overall for landlords. Expect consistent treatment in typical lease and eviction cases.

What is the typical vacancy rate in Early, IA?

Early, IA vacancy trends elevated. Investors running standard buy-and-hold plays see reasonable downtime between tenants.

Does house hacking work in Early, IA?

House hacking in Early, IA is reasonable to execute. Prices around $154K and rents of $828/mo solid owner-occupant economics.

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