Real Estate Investing in Richland, Iowa (52585)

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

Keokuk County • Population: 849 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 52585 (Richland, IA)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (65/100)

Mixed signals — some positives, some negatives. Worth considering but not a slam-dunk.

📈 For Investors
MIXED
3.0 / 5 (52/100)

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: 16.3% 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 Richland, IA (52585)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

2.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

4.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $144,848
Avg Monthly Rent $837
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $71,343
% Renters 25.1%

Market Analysis: 52585 Richland

Not every below-median market is a bargain. Richland's 52585 ZIP clocks in at signals that favor experienced operators who can absorb the risk $145K pricing implies.

Distressed markets are won on execution, not on spreadsheets. ZIP 52585 posts the profile where tenant screening, deferred maintenance, and local relationships determine the outcome.

Statewide comparisons place 52585 among IA's softer markets. That context does not make the ZIP uninvestable, but it does raise the bar for due diligence.

Who lives in 52585 is part of why the ZIP is priced as it is. The demographic profile requires hands-on management, tight screening, and local knowledge.

The 52585 ZIP fits a narrow investor profile — hands-on, patient, and willing to accept that the cap rate on paper is not the cap rate in reality.

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 Richland:

B Good
Buy Confidence Score: 71/100
Affordability
25/25
Appreciation
18/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
6/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Affordable
Homes cost 2× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+10.0%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $837/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
Fairfield, IA Metro Area
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
0 days
Average time to sell
Very Fast
6.1%
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 Fairfield, IA metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 52585

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
2BR
5.8% cap rate
Best Overall Value
3BR
$53,786/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $116,423 $930 5.8% $58,212
3BR $161,358 $1,170 5.2% $53,786

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$161K$146K$131K$117K$102K$87KFeb 2016May 2021Jul 2026

📊 How Does 52585 Compare?

Metric 52585 Richland Fairfield, IA Iowa
Home Value $144,848 $144,848 N/A $227,232
5-Year CAGR 3.6% 3.6% N/A 6.0%
Avg Rent $837 $837 N/A -
Cap Rate 4.5% 4.5% - -
💡 Why Invest in 52585? 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 →
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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 52585 (Richland, IA). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
4.5%
Fair
5yr Growth
+3.6%
Moderate

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on Fairfield, IA metro

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

View all metro crash risk rankings →

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $144,848
Monthly Rent $837
Price-to-Rent 14.4:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 6.9%
Cap Rate 4.5%
5-Year IRR 8.1%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +10.0% ▲
3-Year CAGR +3.8% ▲
5-Year CAGR +3.6% ▲
10-Year CAGR +4.6% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 4.5%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (4.5%). 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
16.3%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+3.6%
Stable
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 52585

Population: 849

💰 Median Household Income
$71,343
This area
$71,343
State
$71,886
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
25.1%
This area
25.1%
State
19.7%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
2.1%
This area
2.1%
State
0.0%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
19.7%
This area
19.7%
State
18.8%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
41.6 years
This area
41.6 years
State
40.2 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
16.3%
This area
16.3%
State
11.7%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 97.2%
Other/Mixed 2.8%
Hispanic/Latino 1.0%
👶 Under 18
23.9%
This area
23.9%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
13.3%
This area
13.3%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
0.5%
This area
0.5%
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
C
Maharishi International University
2,666 students · 11.9 mi

Frequently Asked Questions

Which investment style suits Richland, IA?

A careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management strategy Richland, IA best. The market produces stable results for that approach at the $145K price point.

Is vacancy a concern in Richland, IA?

Expect elevated vacancy in Richland, IA. Rents at $837/mo are absorbed by the tenant base without meaningful lag.

What is the average monthly rent in Richland, IA?

Rent in Richland, IA is around $837/mo. The resulting rent-to-value relationship with $145K pricing is reasonable for most investor models.

What price range are homes in Richland, IA?

The median home value in Richland, IA is roughly $145K. That puts it reasonable relative to the IA statewide average.

What is the renter demographic in Richland, IA?

Tenant quality in Richland, IA ranks as solid. Landlords generally report reliable occupancy at market rents of $837/mo.

You know 52585 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 52585 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 52585 ranks in Fairfield, IA

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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