Real Estate Investing in Martelle, Iowa (52305)

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

Jones County • Population: 853 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 52305 (Martelle, 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 30.4 — hard to cash-flow at these prices.

• 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 Martelle, IA (52305)?

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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 $301,881
Avg Monthly Rent $828
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $88,851
% Renters 20.1%

Market Analysis: 52305 Martelle

The 52305 ZIP covers a section of Martelle that demands careful diligence. Prices near $302K look accessible, but the work to make a deal cash flow is real.

The 52305 ZIP can work — but only with a tight operating hand. Remote landlords and passive investors tend to struggle here more than the underwriting suggests.

ZIP 52305's metrics run below Jones County's averages on price growth and tenant stability. Investors who ignore that regional gap tend to relearn it the hard way.

Employment concentration in 52305 leans toward sectors with higher volatility. The demographic consequence is income fluctuation that investors need to factor into their pro forma.

Strategically, 52305 can be a high-return sleeve of a diversified portfolio — but it should not be the whole portfolio, and it should not be someone's first deal.

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 Martelle:

B Good
Buy Confidence Score: 77/100
Affordability
20/25
Appreciation
25/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
10/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 3.4× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+11.0%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $828/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
COOL
More inventory, negotiating room for buyers
Bottom Line: Mixed signals in this market. Research specific properties carefully and be prepared to negotiate.
❄️
COOL MARKET
Cedar Rapids, IA Metro Area
More inventory, negotiating room for buyers
41 days
Average time to sell
Average
10.2%
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 Cedar Rapids, IA metro data

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$313K$281K$249K$217K$185K$153KFeb 2019Nov 2022Jul 2026

📊 How Does 52305 Compare?

Metric 52305 Martelle Cedar Rapids, IA Iowa
Home Value $301,881 $301,881 N/A $227,232
5-Year CAGR 7.6% 7.6% N/A 6.0%
Avg Rent $828 $828 N/A -
Cap Rate 2.1% 2.1% - -
💡 Why Invest in 52305? 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 52305 (Martelle, IA). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
2.1%
Low
5yr Growth
+7.6%
Strong

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on Cedar Rapids, IA metro

1/10
Low Risk
Price YoY
0/3
N/A
Rent YoY
0/2
N/A
Below List
0/3
46%
Days Pending
1/2
41 days

View all metro crash risk rankings →

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $301,881
Monthly Rent $828
Price-to-Rent 30.4:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 3.3%
Cap Rate 2.1%
5-Year IRR 9.8%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +11.0% ▲
3-Year CAGR +7.0% ▲
5-Year CAGR +7.6% ▲
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: 2.1%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (2.1%). 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
5.9%
Low risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+7.6%
Growing
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 52305

Population: 853

💰 Median Household Income
$88,851
This area
$88,851
State
$71,886
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
20.1%
This area
20.1%
State
19.7%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
4.4%
This area
4.4%
State
0.0%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
26.0%
This area
26.0%
State
18.8%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
37.1 years
This area
37.1 years
State
40.2 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
5.9%
This area
5.9%
State
11.7%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 95.3%
Other/Mixed 4.7%
👶 Under 18
29.9%
This area
29.9%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
19.8%
This area
19.8%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
17.6%
This area
17.6%
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

2 Nearby
C+
Carlson College of Massage Therapy
19 students · 6.0 mi
C+
Cornell College
1,084 students · 7.7 mi

Frequently Asked Questions

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

Martelle, IA scores 3.0/5 for investability. Home values sit at $302K and rents near $828/mo, which keeps the rent-to-price ratio in reasonable territory for buy-and-hold investors.

What real estate strategy is ideal for Martelle, IA?

For Martelle, IA, careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management is the standard investor playbook. The market structure makes it a reasonable default approach.

What is the typical rental rate in Martelle, IA?

The typical rental in Martelle, IA commands about $828/mo monthly. That rent profile predictable cash flow against the $302K purchase basis.

Does Martelle, IA favor landlords or tenants?

Martelle, IA operates under IA law, which is landlord-friendly overall for landlords. Expect even-keeled treatment in typical lease and eviction cases.

What is the typical vacancy rate in Martelle, IA?

Martelle, IA vacancy trends elevated. Investors running standard buy-and-hold plays see reasonable downtime between tenants.

You know 52305 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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How 52305 ranks in Cedar Rapids, IA

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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