Real Estate Investing in Kimballton, Iowa (51543)

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

Audubon County • Population: 435 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 51543 (Kimballton, IA)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (57/100)

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

📈 For Investors
MIXED
3.0 / 5 (57/100)

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: 12.8% 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 Kimballton, IA (51543)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

0.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

5.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $129,211
Avg Monthly Rent $1,116
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $50,000
% Renters 20.1%

Market Analysis: 51543 Kimballton

Investors eyeing 51543 need to respect the fundamentals at play. Home values of $129K come alongside slower price movement and elevated management overhead.

If the plan assumes clean turnover, on-time rent, and low maintenance on a $129K asset, 51543 is the wrong submarket. If the plan prices in friction, the yield can still work.

ZIP 51543's metrics run below Audubon County's averages on price growth and tenant stability. Investors who ignore that regional gap tend to relearn it the hard way.

From an investor standpoint, 435 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.

New investors are better served looking at Kimballton's stable or hybrid ZIPs before stepping into 51543. 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 Kimballton:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 64/100
Affordability
20/25
Appreciation
14/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Affordable
Homes cost 2.6× the median income
Value Trend
Stable (+2.1%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,116/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)

$132K$125K$119K$113K$106K$100KFeb 2022May 2024Jul 2026

📊 How Does 51543 Compare?

Metric 51543 Kimballton Iowa
Home Value $129,211 $129,211 $227,232
5-Year CAGR N/A N/A 6.0%
Avg Rent $1,116 $1,116 -
Cap Rate 6.7% 6.7% -
💡 Why Invest in 51543? 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 51543 (Kimballton, IA). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
6.7%
Good

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $129,211
Monthly Rent $1,116
Price-to-Rent 9.7:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 10.4%
Cap Rate 6.7%
5-Year IRR 12.4%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +2.1% ▲
3-Year CAGR +5.7% ▲
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
Neutral Leverage Cap Rate: 6.7%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage is roughly neutral here.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) is close to the estimated cap rate (6.7%). Financing this market at current rates produces a cash-on-cash return near the cap rate. Appreciation and tax benefits may still support the investment.

⚠️ Risk Signals

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

Vacancy
12.8%
Moderate risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
N/A
Stable
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 51543

Population: 435

💰 Median Household Income
$50,000
This area
$50,000
State
$71,886
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
20.1%
This area
20.1%
State
19.7%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
1.4%
This area
1.4%
State
0.0%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
11.5%
This area
11.5%
State
18.8%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
48.5 years
This area
48.5 years
State
40.2 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
12.8%
This area
12.8%
State
11.7%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 97.7%
Other/Mixed 2.3%
👶 Under 18
28.2%
This area
28.2%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
23.6%
This area
23.6%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
11.8%
This area
11.8%
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

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Kimballton, IA make sense for an investment property?

Our data puts Kimballton, IA at 3.0/5 for investability. Home prices of $129K and rents around $1,116/mo create a solid backdrop for investor activity.

What is the smart move for investors in Kimballton, IA?

Investors who focus on careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management typically do well in Kimballton, IA. The numbers - $129K homes against $1,116/mo rents - support that play.

What is the rental occupancy rate in Kimballton, IA?

Vacancy risk in Kimballton, IA is elevated. That supports steady cash flow for typical rental holds.

Are landlord laws favorable in Kimballton, IA?

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

Where do home prices stand in Kimballton, IA?

In Kimballton, IA the median home value sits at $129K. Against the broader IA market, that reads as reasonable for most investors.

You know 51543 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 51543 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.

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