Real Estate Investing in Mystic, Iowa (52574)

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

Appanoose County • Population: 484 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 52574 (Mystic, IA)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (61/100)

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

📈 For Investors
STRONG
4.0 / 5 (86/100)

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: 36.3% 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 Mystic, IA (52574)?

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4.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

0.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

5.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $62,648
Avg Monthly Rent $909
1% Rule ✓ Meets
Median Income $59,643
% Renters 21.8%

Market Analysis: 52574 Mystic

Homes in the 52574 ZIP trade near $63K, a discount that has historically rewarded investors willing to renovate. Rent comps near $909/mo support the pro forma.

BRRRR works in 52574 because the math supports it. Buy at $63K, rehab, and the refinance step typically recovers capital in a way that flat-yield markets cannot match.

Across Mystic, pockets like 52574 represent the last affordable rungs of a rising ladder. The state-level data shows those rungs thinning.

Demographically, 52574 is a working ZIP — not a luxury market. That profile is exactly what value-add operators need in order to price their renovated product correctly.

The significant opportunity in 52574 is buying the worst house on the block, fixing it, and renting it at the top of the local band. That is the strategy, repeated.

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 Mystic:

B+ Great
Buy Confidence Score: 80/100
Affordability
25/25
Appreciation
25/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Affordable
Homes cost 1.1× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+25.0%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $909/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
BALANCED
Even conditions for buyers and sellers
Bottom Line: This area shows favorable conditions for homebuyers. Solid fundamentals with reasonable affordability.
🏠

Property Strategy for 52574

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
2BR
7.0% cap rate
Best Overall Value
3BR
$48,870/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $103,285 $1,010 7.0% $51,642
3BR $146,609 $1,210 5.9% $48,870

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$76K$70K$63K$57K$50K$44KFeb 2022May 2024Jul 2026

📊 How Does 52574 Compare?

Metric 52574 Mystic Iowa
Home Value $62,648 $62,648 $227,232
5-Year CAGR N/A N/A 6.0%
Avg Rent $909 $909 -
Cap Rate 11.3% 11.3% -
💡 Why Invest in 52574? Click to expand

This ZIP code meets the 1% rule with rent at $909/mo on homes averaging $62,648 — a strong indicator of cash flow potential.

Our analysis gives this area a 4/5 investability rating, placing it in the top tier for rental property potential.

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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 52574 (Mystic, IA). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Excellent
Cap Rate
11.3%
Excellent

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $62,648
Monthly Rent $909
Price-to-Rent 5.7:1
1% Rule ✓ Passes

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 17.4%
Cap Rate 11.3%
5-Year IRR 14.5%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +25.0% ▲
3-Year CAGR +3.2% ▲
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
Positive Leverage Market Cap Rate: 11.3%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage may enhance returns here.

The estimated cap rate (11.3%) exceeds the current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%). When borrowing costs less than a property yields, leverage can increase your cash-on-cash return above the cap rate.

⚠️ Risk Signals

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

Vacancy
36.3%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
N/A
Stable
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 52574

Population: 484

💰 Median Household Income
$59,643
This area
$59,643
State
$71,886
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
21.8%
This area
21.8%
State
19.7%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
4.3%
This area
4.3%
State
0.0%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
8.3%
This area
8.3%
State
18.8%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
48.2 years
This area
48.2 years
State
40.2 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
36.3%
This area
36.3%
State
11.7%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 90.6%
Other/Mixed 9.4%
Hispanic/Latino 0.4%
👶 Under 18
21.2%
This area
21.2%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
22.8%
This area
22.8%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
1.4%
This area
1.4%
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

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Mystic, IA better for rentals, flips, or BRRRR?

Mystic, IA investors pursuing value-add and BRRRR deals. The underlying economics ($63K prices, $909/mo rents) make it a reasonable choice.

Can investors BRRRR in Mystic, IA?

Mystic, IA is a strong for BRRRR. Acquiring below market, rehabbing, and leasing at $909/mo produces solid refinance appraisals against $63K values.

How much does a house cost in Mystic, IA?

In Mystic, IA the median home value sits at $63K. Against the broader IA market, that reads as reasonable for most investors.

What do rentals go for in Mystic, IA?

Rental rates in Mystic, IA average $909/mo. Tenant demand and $63K home values make the yield look reasonable by investor standards.

Is the 1% rule achievable in Mystic, IA?

Yes, many Mystic, IA properties clear the 1% rule. The rent-to-price ratio averages 1.45%, supported by $909/mo rents.

You know 52574 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 52574 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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