Real Estate Investing in Swea City, Iowa (50590)

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

Kossuth County • Population: 736 • Data updated: September 2026

☆ Watch this market Free account

Should you buy in 50590 (Swea City, IA)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
CAUTION
Grade D (54/100)

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: 15.0% 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 Swea City, IA (50590)?

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.
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 $108,180
Avg Monthly Rent $828
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $60,417
% Renters 26.4%

Market Analysis: 50590 Swea City

ZIP 50590 inside Kossuth County looks affordable on the surface — median value of $108K — but the discount exists for reasons that a careful buyer should understand before committing.

If the plan assumes clean turnover, on-time rent, and low maintenance on a $108K asset, 50590 is the wrong submarket. If the plan prices in friction, the yield can still work.

Regionally, 50590 sits on the difficult end of the IA spectrum. The worth a close look for read — for disciplined operators — is that pricing reflects the difficulty.

Employment concentration in 50590 leans toward sectors with higher volatility. The demographic consequence is income fluctuation that investors need to factor into their pro forma.

appears to the ZIP is not uninvestable, but it is unforgiving. Section 8 landlords, local operators, and specialized value-add funds are the investor types that tend to succeed.

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 Swea City:

B Good
Buy Confidence Score: 73/100
Affordability
25/25
Appreciation
18/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Affordable
Homes cost 1.8× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+3.3%)
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)

$117K$110K$104K$98K$92K$85KFeb 2022May 2024Jul 2026

📊 How Does 50590 Compare?

Metric 50590 Swea City Iowa
Home Value $108,180 $131,372 $227,232
5-Year CAGR N/A N/A 6.0%
Avg Rent $828 $846 -
Cap Rate 6.0% 5.2% -
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 50590 (Swea City, IA). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

Do you own or manage rentals in ZIP 50590 (Swea City, IA)?

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

Investability
Fair
Cap Rate
6.0%
Fair

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $108,180
Monthly Rent $828
Price-to-Rent 10.9:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 9.2%
Cap Rate 6.0%
5-Year IRR 10.8%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +3.3% ▲
3-Year CAGR +4.8% ▲
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
15.0%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
N/A
Stable
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 50590

Population: 736

💰 Median Household Income
$60,417
This area
$60,417
State
$71,886
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
26.4%
This area
26.4%
State
19.7%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
1.7%
This area
1.7%
State
0.0%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
16.6%
This area
16.6%
State
18.8%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
40.8 years
This area
40.8 years
State
40.2 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
15.0%
This area
15.0%
State
11.7%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 90.8%
Other/Mixed 8.7%
Hispanic/Latino 5.1%
Black/African American 0.5%
👶 Under 18
25.4%
This area
25.4%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
19.8%
This area
19.8%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
15.2%
This area
15.2%
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 50590

B+ Avg School Grade
2 Schools
14.8:1 Avg Class Size
$18,742 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A Very Good

North Union Middle School

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
118 Students
👨‍🏫
14.6:1 Class Size
💰
$18,742 Per Student
B+ Above Average

North Kossuth Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
140 Students
👨‍🏫
15.1:1 Class Size
💰
$18,742 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

What is the median home value in Swea City, IA?

Typical homes in Swea City, IA go for around $108K. The 5-year CAGR of 0.0% predictable price movement.

Are renters plentiful in Swea City, IA?

Swea City, IA draws a consistent base of working renters. Demand at the $828/mo rent level is reasonable for standard single-family and small multi rentals.

What is it like being a landlord in Swea City, IA?

IA ranks as a landlord-friendly state for landlord-tenant law. Swea City generally follows the statewide framework, so landlords face reasonable operating rules.

Does a duplex house hack pencil in Swea City, IA?

For house hackers, Swea City, IA is a challenging. The $828/mo rent on a unit helps defray the mortgage on a $108K property.

What do rentals go for in Swea City, IA?

Average rent in Swea City, IA is approximately $828/mo per month. Against $108K home values that yields a reasonable rent-to-price ratio.

You know 50590 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 50590 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 50590 (Swea City)

Loading...

Community Ratings

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

Be the first to rate 50590 (Swea City, IA).

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