Real Estate Investing in Vail, Iowa (51465)

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

Crawford County • Population: 645 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 51465 (Vail, IA)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
GOOD FIT
Grade B (71/100)

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
1 flag
  • Elevated vacancy: 10.7% vacancy may signal weakening demand.

• 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 Vail, IA (51465)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

4.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

3.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $205,578
Avg Monthly Rent $846
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $63,971
% Renters 15.0%

Market Analysis: 51465 Vail

The 51465 ZIP in Vail, IA is a local-operator market. Outside capital chasing a $206K entry has to pair deep knowledge with the discount.

For an experienced owner, 51465 can be a a credible choice for hunting ground — but the discount at $206K reflects genuine risk that outside investors often underestimate.

Within IA, ZIP 51465 trails on several market indicators that neighboring Crawford County submarkets outperform. The gap is real and notable enough to shape underwriting.

Put differently, 645 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.

The 51465 ZIP fits a narrow investor profile — hands-on, patient, and willing to accept that the cap rate on paper is not the cap rate in reality.

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 Vail:

B Good
Buy Confidence Score: 75/100
Affordability
20/25
Appreciation
25/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 3.2× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+13.7%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $846/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)

$214K$190K$165K$141K$117K$93KFeb 2019Nov 2022Jul 2026

📊 How Does 51465 Compare?

Metric 51465 Vail Iowa
Home Value $205,578 $205,578 $227,232
5-Year CAGR 9.4% 9.4% 6.0%
Avg Rent $846 $846 -
Cap Rate 3.2% 3.2% -
💡 Why Invest in 51465? Click to expand

With a 3/5 investability rating, this ZIP shows solid fundamentals for buy-and-hold investors.

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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 51465 (Vail, IA). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
3.2%
Low
5yr Growth
+9.4%
Strong

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $205,578
Monthly Rent $846
Price-to-Rent 20.3:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 4.9%
Cap Rate 3.2%
5-Year IRR 12.6%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +13.7% ▲
3-Year CAGR +7.0% ▲
5-Year CAGR +9.4% ▲
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: 3.2%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (3.2%). 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
10.7%
Moderate risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+9.4%
Growing
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 51465

Population: 645

💰 Median Household Income
$63,971
This area
$63,971
State
$71,886
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
15.0%
This area
15.0%
State
19.7%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
0.9%
This area
0.9%
State
0.0%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
19.3%
This area
19.3%
State
18.8%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
43.1 years
This area
43.1 years
State
40.2 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
10.7%
This area
10.7%
State
11.7%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 84.5%
Other/Mixed 15.3%
Hispanic/Latino 14.2%
Black/African American 0.1%
👶 Under 18
26.3%
This area
26.3%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
16.3%
This area
16.3%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
5.1%
This area
5.1%
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

Is vacancy a concern in Vail, IA?

Rental vacancy in Vail, IA is elevated. Investors should budget normal turnover but not chronic empty units.

What is the average monthly rent in Vail, IA?

Rent in Vail, IA is around $846/mo. The resulting rent-to-value relationship with $206K pricing is reasonable for most investor models.

How deep is the rental pool in Vail, IA?

The tenant pool in Vail, IA is solid, supported by local employment and population fundamentals. Rents of $846/mo are well-absorbed by the market.

Can owner-occupants cash flow in Vail, IA?

Vail, IA is a a challenging market for house hackers. FHA or conventional owner-occupant buyers find the $206K price point reasonable to enter.

Is real estate in Vail, IA a good investment right now?

Vail, IA scores 3.0/5 for investability. Home values sit at $206K and rents near $846/mo, which keeps the rent-to-price ratio in reasonable territory for buy-and-hold investors.

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