Real Estate Investing in Fayette, Iowa (52142)

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

Fayette County • Population: 1,992 • Data updated: September 2026

☆ Watch this market Free account

Should you buy in 52142 (Fayette, IA)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
GOOD FIT
Grade B (76/100)

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.

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

What’s happening in Fayette, IA (52142)?

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 $177,428
Avg Monthly Rent $873
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $45,541
% Renters 38.8%

Market Analysis: 52142 Fayette

The 52142 ZIP in Fayette, IA is a local-operator market. Outside capital chasing a $177K entry has to pair deep knowledge with the discount.

Distressed does not mean uninvestable. It means the margin for error is thinner. ZIP 52142 rewards the prepared, punishes the overconfident, and leaves the math unchanged either way.

Nearby ZIPs in Fayette have seen price recovery that 52142 has not matched. Fayette County data supports the view that the spread is structural rather than temporary.

A notable renter share of 39% in 52142 is not, on its own, a problem — but paired with below-average income and high mobility, it changes the operating playbook.

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 Fayette:

B Good
Buy Confidence Score: 70/100
Affordability
15/25
Appreciation
25/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 3.9× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+9.5%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $873/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.
🏠

Property Strategy for 52142

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
2BR
5.1% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
4BR
+8.7% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
4BR
$57,072/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $137,631 $970 5.1% +8.4% $68,816
3BR $190,016 $1,280 4.9% +8.5% $63,339
4BR $228,287 $1,520 4.8% +8.7% $57,072

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$185K$165K$144K$123K$103K$82KOct 2015Mar 2021Jul 2026

📊 How Does 52142 Compare?

Metric 52142 Fayette Iowa
Home Value $177,428 $177,428 $227,232
5-Year CAGR 7.3% 7.3% 6.0%
Avg Rent $873 $873 -
Cap Rate 3.8% 3.8% -
💡 Why Invest in 52142? Click to expand

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

A healthy rental market with 39% renter-occupied households ensures tenant availability.

📊 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 52142 (Fayette, IA). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

Do you own or manage rentals in ZIP 52142 (Fayette, IA)?

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

Investability
Good
Cap Rate
3.8%
Low
5yr Growth
+7.3%
Strong

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $177,428
Monthly Rent $873
Price-to-Rent 16.9:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 5.9%
Cap Rate 3.8%
5-Year IRR 11.2%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +9.5% ▲
3-Year CAGR +4.9% ▲
5-Year CAGR +7.3% ▲
10-Year CAGR +7.1% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 3.8%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (3.8%). 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
7.9%
Low risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+7.3%
Growing
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 52142

Population: 1,992

💰 Median Household Income
$45,541
This area
$45,541
State
$71,886
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
38.8%
This area
38.8%
State
19.7%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
4.8%
This area
4.8%
State
0.0%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
21.7%
This area
21.7%
State
18.8%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
30.9 years
This area
30.9 years
State
40.2 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
7.9%
This area
7.9%
State
11.7%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 78.3%
Other/Mixed 13.2%
Hispanic/Latino 8.3%
Black/African American 4.9%
Asian 3.6%
👶 Under 18
15.9%
This area
15.9%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
20.2%
This area
20.2%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
11.4%
This area
11.4%
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

1 Nearby
D
Upper Iowa University
3,102 students · 0.8 mi

Frequently Asked Questions

What type of investing works in Fayette, IA?

Most investors in Fayette, IA run a careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management strategy. It aligns with the 3.0/5 investability profile and the market fundamentals.

What is the tenant pool like in Fayette, IA?

Fayette, IA draws a even-keeled base of working renters. Demand at the $873/mo rent level is reasonable for standard single-family and small multi rentals.

What does house hacking look like in Fayette, IA?

House hacking works a challenging in Fayette, IA. Rents of $873/mo against $177K acquisition make the strategy solid for owner-occupants.

Is IA a landlord-friendly state?

IA law landlord-friendly for landlords, and Fayette inherits those rules. Investors should still review local ordinances for rental licensing.

What monthly rent should investors expect in Fayette, IA?

Fayette, IA rentals go for roughly $873/mo a month. That puts gross yield in solid territory relative to $177K acquisition costs.

You know 52142 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 52142 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 52142 (Fayette)

Loading...

Community Ratings

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

Be the first to rate 52142 (Fayette, IA).

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