Real Estate Investing in Gilbertville, Iowa (50634)

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

Black Hawk County • Population: 736 • Data updated: September 2026

☆ Watch this market Free account

Should you buy in 50634 (Gilbertville, IA)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
GOOD FIT
Grade B (84/100)

Solid choice — values are growing steadily and the market is stable enough to buy with confidence.

📈 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
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 Gilbertville, IA (50634)?

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

3.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $219,129
Avg Monthly Rent $828
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $79,286
% Renters 12.9%

Market Analysis: 50634 Gilbertville

The 50634 ZIP covers a section of Gilbertville that demands careful diligence. Prices near $219K look accessible, but the work to make a deal cash flow is real.

Rent of $828/mo on a $219K basis reads well until vacancy, delinquency, and capex enter the model. The honest cap rate in 50634 sits below the stated 0.0% once reality is priced in.

The gap between 50634 and stronger Gilbertville ZIPs is not closing quickly. Investors should weight long-horizon assumptions accordingly.

A durable renter share of 13% in 50634 is not, on its own, a problem — but paired with below-average income and high mobility, it changes the operating playbook.

Distressed ZIPs reward experience. sturdy returns are possible in 50634, but they flow to investors who already understand how to operate in soft markets.

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 Gilbertville:

B Good
Buy Confidence Score: 72/100
Affordability
20/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Affordable
Homes cost 2.8× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+5.0%)
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.
⚖️
BALANCED MARKET
Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA Metro Area
Even conditions for buyers and sellers
36 days
Average time to sell
Average
8.4%
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 Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 50634

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
3BR
3.9% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
3BR
+5.8% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
3BR
$72,359/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $176,029 $920 3.8% +4.9% $88,014
3BR $217,078 $1,190 3.9% +5.8% $72,359

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$230K$206K$183K$159K$135K$112KMay 2007Dec 2016Jul 2026

📊 How Does 50634 Compare?

Metric 50634 Gilbertville Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA Iowa
Home Value $219,129 $219,129 N/A $227,232
5-Year CAGR 5.5% 5.5% N/A 6.0%
Avg Rent $828 $828 N/A -
Cap Rate 3.0% 3.0% - -
💡 Why Invest in 50634? 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 50634 (Gilbertville, IA). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

Do you own or manage rentals in ZIP 50634 (Gilbertville, IA)?

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

Investability
Good
Cap Rate
3.0%
Low
5yr Growth
+5.5%
Moderate

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $219,129
Monthly Rent $828
Price-to-Rent 22.1:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 4.5%
Cap Rate 3.0%
5-Year IRR 8.5%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +5.0% ▲
3-Year CAGR +4.5% ▲
5-Year CAGR +5.5% ▲
10-Year CAGR +4.3% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 3.0%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (3.0%). 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
2.8%
Low risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+5.5%
Stable
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 50634

Population: 736

💰 Median Household Income
$79,286
This area
$79,286
State
$71,886
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
12.9%
This area
12.9%
State
19.7%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
1.9%
This area
1.9%
State
0.0%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
23.5%
This area
23.5%
State
18.8%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
42.8 years
This area
42.8 years
State
40.2 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
2.8%
This area
2.8%
State
11.7%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 98.4%
Other/Mixed 0.9%
Black/African American 0.6%
👶 Under 18
20.5%
This area
20.5%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
25.2%
This area
25.2%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
2.8%
This area
2.8%
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

🎓 Nearby Colleges & Universities

5 Nearby 3,042 Off-Campus Students
C
Hawkeye Community College
4,796 students · 6.0 mi
C
Allen College
489 students · 10.1 mi
D
The Salon Professional Academy-Cedar Falls
101 students · 12.9 mi
C+
La James International College-Cedar Falls
40 students · 13.1 mi
C+
University of Northern Iowa
9,013 students · 14.2 mi

Investor Insight: With 3,042 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

What price range are homes in Gilbertville, IA?

The median home value in Gilbertville, IA is roughly $219K. That puts it reasonable relative to the IA statewide average.

What kind of vacancy should I budget for in Gilbertville, IA?

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

How deep is the rental pool in Gilbertville, IA?

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

How much do tenants pay in Gilbertville, IA?

Rent in Gilbertville, IA is around $828/mo. The resulting rent-to-value relationship with $219K pricing is reasonable for most investor models.

Is Gilbertville, IA good for landlords?

Gilbertville, IA falls under IA landlord-tenant law, which is landlord-friendly. That backdrop makes day-to-day property management reasonable.

You know 50634 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 50634 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

How 50634 ranks in Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
🤖

AI Market Advisor

Ask questions about investing in 50634 (Gilbertville)

Loading...

Community Ratings

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

Be the first to rate 50634 (Gilbertville, IA).

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