Real Estate Investing in Farley, Iowa (52046)

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

Dubuque County • Population: 2,628 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 52046 (Farley, IA)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
GOOD FIT
Grade B (72/100)

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
  • High price-to-rent: Price-to-rent ratio 27.3 — hard to cash-flow at these prices.

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

What’s happening in Farley, IA (52046)?

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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 $321,053
Avg Monthly Rent $981
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $99,286
% Renters 20.6%

Market Analysis: 52046 Farley

This part of Dubuque County is not an easy win. The 52046 ZIP reports softness in key indicators, and the playbook that works in cleaner markets often stalls here.

Distressed does not mean uninvestable. It means the margin for error is thinner. ZIP 52046 rewards the prepared, punishes the overconfident, and leaves the math unchanged either way.

Nearby ZIPs in Farley have seen price recovery that 52046 has not matched. Dubuque County data supports the view that the spread is structural rather than temporary.

Resident income in 52046 sits below the county median. That reality colors rent collection, vacancy, and reinvestment math in ways that outside investors often underestimate.

The right play in 52046 usually involves deep tenant screening, aggressive delinquency response, and a conservative capex buffer. Anything less, and the discount can turn into a trap.

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 Farley:

B Good
Buy Confidence Score: 70/100
Affordability
20/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
6/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 3.2× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+8.6%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $981/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
WARM
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
Bottom Line: Mixed signals in this market. Research specific properties carefully and be prepared to negotiate.
☀️
WARM MARKET
Dubuque, IA Metro Area
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
0 days
Average time to sell
Very Fast
13.0%
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 Dubuque, IA metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 52046

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
3BR
3.9% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
4BR
+6.9% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
3BR
$90,778/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $244,567 $1,090 3.2% +6.5% $122,283
3BR $272,335 $1,470 3.9% +6.5% $90,778
4BR $373,303 $1,830 3.5% +6.9% $93,326

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$335K$294K$253K$212K$171K$129KApr 2009Dec 2017Jul 2026

📊 How Does 52046 Compare?

Metric 52046 Farley Dubuque, IA Iowa
Home Value $321,053 $321,053 N/A $227,232
5-Year CAGR 6.3% 6.3% N/A 6.0%
Avg Rent $981 $981 N/A -
Cap Rate 2.4% 2.4% - -
💡 Why Invest in 52046? 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.
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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 52046 (Farley, IA). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
2.4%
Low
5yr Growth
+6.3%
Strong

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on Dubuque, IA metro

1/10
Low Risk
Price YoY
0/3
N/A
Rent YoY
0/2
N/A
Below List
1/3
51%
Days Pending
0/2
0 days

View all metro crash risk rankings →

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $321,053
Monthly Rent $981
Price-to-Rent 27.3:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 3.7%
Cap Rate 2.4%
5-Year IRR 8.7%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +8.6% ▲
3-Year CAGR +6.3% ▲
5-Year CAGR +6.3% ▲
10-Year CAGR +6.5% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 2.4%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (2.4%). 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
2.1%
Low risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+6.3%
Growing
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 52046

Population: 2,628

💰 Median Household Income
$99,286
This area
$99,286
State
$71,886
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
20.6%
This area
20.6%
State
19.7%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
3.9%
This area
3.9%
State
0.0%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
27.4%
This area
27.4%
State
18.8%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
37.9 years
This area
37.9 years
State
40.2 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
2.1%
This area
2.1%
State
11.7%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 96.2%
Other/Mixed 2.6%
Hispanic/Latino 1.4%
Black/African American 1.2%
👶 Under 18
27.9%
This area
27.9%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
15.5%
This area
15.5%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
2.1%
This area
2.1%
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

🎓 Schools in 52046

B+ Avg School Grade
2 Schools
13.8:1 Avg Class Size
$12,535 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

B+ Above Average

Drexler Middle School

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
658 Students
👨‍🏫
13.7:1 Class Size
💰
$12,535 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Farley Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
273 Students
👨‍🏫
13.8:1 Class Size
💰
$12,535 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
B
Divine Word College
61 students · 3.9 mi

Frequently Asked Questions

Is housing expensive in Farley, IA?

Farley, IA median home values land near $321K. That is reasonable territory for investors looking at $981/mo-per-month rentals.

Is rental property easy to operate in Farley, IA?

Landlord-friendliness in Farley, IA is landlord-friendly. Eviction timelines and lease enforcement are considered reasonable by most property managers.

What is the renter demographic in Farley, IA?

Tenant quality in Farley, IA ranks as solid. Landlords generally report reliable occupancy at market rents of $981/mo.

Is Farley in IA worth investing in?

Our data puts Farley, IA at 3.0/5 for investability. Home prices of $321K and rents around $981/mo create a solid backdrop for investor activity.

Does house hacking make sense in Farley, IA?

House hacking works a challenging in Farley, IA. Rents of $981/mo against $321K acquisition make the strategy solid for owner-occupants.

You know 52046 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 52046 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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How 52046 ranks in Dubuque, IA

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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