Real Estate Investing in Swisher, Iowa (52338)

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

Johnson County • Population: 3,865 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 52338 (Swisher, IA)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

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

Solid choice — stable market with a reasonable entry point and good rental backup if you ever need to move.

📈 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 41.4 — 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 Swisher, IA (52338)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

2.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

3.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $478,360
Avg Monthly Rent $963
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $117,143
% Renters 6.4%

Market Analysis: 52338 Swisher

Investors eyeing 52338 need to respect the fundamentals at play. Home values of $478K come alongside slower price movement and elevated management overhead.

Distressed markets are won on execution, not on spreadsheets. ZIP 52338 comes in at the profile where tenant screening, deferred maintenance, and local relationships determine the outcome.

Within IA, ZIP 52338 trails on several market indicators that neighboring Johnson County submarkets outperform. The gap is real and healthy enough to shape underwriting.

Employment concentration in 52338 leans toward sectors with higher volatility. The demographic consequence is income fluctuation that investors need to factor into their pro forma.

New investors are better served looking at Swisher's stable or hybrid ZIPs before stepping into 52338. 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 Swisher:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 63/100
Affordability
15/25
Appreciation
18/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 4.1× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+7.1%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $963/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.
⚖️
BALANCED MARKET
Iowa City, IA Metro Area
Even conditions for buyers and sellers
49 days
Average time to sell
Average
7.2%
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 Iowa City, IA metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 52338

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
3BR
3.0% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
4BR
+6.4% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
3BR
$120,504/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
3BR $361,512 $1,490 3.0% +5.7% $120,504
4BR $546,692 $1,790 2.4% +6.4% $136,673

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$497K$443K$388K$334K$279K$225KJan 2009Oct 2017Jul 2026

📊 How Does 52338 Compare?

Metric 52338 Swisher Iowa City, IA Iowa
Home Value $478,360 $478,360 N/A $227,232
5-Year CAGR 4.9% 4.9% N/A 6.0%
Avg Rent $963 $963 N/A -
Cap Rate 1.6% 1.6% - -
💡 Why Invest in 52338? 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 52338 (Swisher, IA). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Property managers serving Johnson County

Manage rentals here? List your business →

KMB Property Management offers management services, including HOA management, and provides resources for residents and clients. summary from their website

HOA
Unclaimed — is this your business? Claim it free

Keystone Property Management Group offers property management services. summary from their website

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Nest Property Management offers full-service property management to owners and investors in Iowa City, including student housing and tenant resources. summary from their website

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Listings are shown for convenience — Repit doesn’t endorse or vet these companies. Ratings shown come only from email-verified visitors.

Investability
Good
Cap Rate
1.6%
Low
5yr Growth
+4.9%
Moderate

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on Iowa City, IA metro

2/10
Low Risk
Price YoY
0/3
N/A
Rent YoY
0/2
N/A
Below List
1/3
53%
Days Pending
1/2
49 days

View all metro crash risk rankings →

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $478,360
Monthly Rent $963
Price-to-Rent 41.4:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 2.4%
Cap Rate 1.6%
5-Year IRR 6.5%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +7.1% ▲
3-Year CAGR +3.5% ▲
5-Year CAGR +4.9% ▲
10-Year CAGR +5.2% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 1.6%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (1.6%). 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
1.1%
Low risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+4.9%
Stable
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 52338

Population: 3,865

💰 Median Household Income
$117,143
This area
$117,143
State
$71,886
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
6.4%
This area
6.4%
State
19.7%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
2.1%
This area
2.1%
State
0.0%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
43.9%
This area
43.9%
State
18.8%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
44.2 years
This area
44.2 years
State
40.2 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
1.1%
This area
1.1%
State
11.7%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 92.2%
Other/Mixed 3.7%
Asian 3.1%
Hispanic/Latino 1.3%
Black/African American 1.1%
👶 Under 18
25.5%
This area
25.5%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
17.8%
This area
17.8%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
4.0%
This area
4.0%
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

6 Nearby 8,317 Off-Campus Students
C
Kirkwood Community College
12,660 students · 6.4 mi
C
Capri College-Cedar Rapids
128 students · 9.1 mi
C
Mercy-St Luke's School of Radiologic Technology
21 students · 11.1 mi
C+
Coe College
1,278 students · 11.3 mi
C
Mount Mercy University
1,451 students · 12.3 mi
B
University of Iowa
30,042 students · 14.6 mi

Investor Insight: With 8,317 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are rental rates like in Swisher, IA?

Rental rates in Swisher, IA average $963/mo. Tenant demand and $478K home values make the yield look reasonable by investor standards.

What kind of vacancy should I budget for in Swisher, IA?

Occupancy in Swisher, IA runs reliable with elevated vacancy. Well-priced units at $963/mo lease on reasonable timelines.

What price range are homes in Swisher, IA?

Median home price in Swisher, IA is near $478K, with a 5-year CAGR of 0.0%. Prices have been even-keeled and supportive of buy-and-hold strategies.

What investment strategy works best in Swisher, IA?

In Swisher, IA the substantial play is typically careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management. The combination of $478K prices and $963/mo rents suits that approach.

What kind of tenants rent in Swisher, IA?

Swisher, IA offers a measured renter base at the $963/mo rent level. Tenant turnover is reasonable for well-managed properties.

You know 52338 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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How 52338 ranks in Iowa City, IA

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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